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Fort Walton Beach City HallPhoto: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach spent more per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar cities

Fort Walton Beach’s city government spent $43.8 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, about $1,956 per resident. Water and other utilities ($1.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Special Magistrate

9:00 am · 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$43.8M
year to September 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,956
In 2022: $1,956, more than 69% of 67 similar cities
Long-term debt
$37.5M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2022
240
full-time · 41 part-time · March payroll $1.1M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$1,806
0.56% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Fort Walton Beach is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,956 per resident, more than 69% of 67 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer31% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2022).A shared school districtShares Okaloosa County School District with 6+ other towns.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Fort Walton Beach’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov5
    Local Planning AgencyThursday · 5:30 pm · 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SWLocal Planning Agency Regular MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Oct21
    Special MagistrateWednesday · 9:00 am · 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SWSpecial Magistrate Code Compliance and Police Citation HearingsMeeting page ↗
  • Oct1
    Local Planning AgencyThursday · 5:30 pm · 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SWLocal Planning Agency Regular MeetingMeeting page ↗
  • Sep24
    GeneralThursday · 6:00 pmCP Media TestMeeting page ↗
  • Sep16
    Special MagistrateWednesday · 9:00 am · 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SWSpecial Magistrate Code Compliance and Police Citation HearingsMeeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,956 per resident a year, or $5.36 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 30%.

Where the money comes from
Fees & charges 32%Property taxes 16%Sales taxes 11%From the state 10%Utility sales 9%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses 7%From other local governments 4%From the federal government 4%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $3.6 million; interest on debt $1.1 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $49.7 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,956 per resident in 2022: more than 69% of them

Fort Walton Beach’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,956 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,525, and the middle half spent $1,160–$2,204. Fort Walton Beach spent more than 69% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,160–$2,204Median $1,525Fort Walton Beach

Includes sewer and trash ($13 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
67

Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Fort Walton Beach itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Fort Walton Beach reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,806 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.56% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Florida$2,730
Cinco Bayou$2,587
Ocean City$2,127
Fort Walton Beach$1,806
Mary Esther$1,697
Wright$1,657
$1,806
typical bill a year
0.56%
effective rate
$321,800
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Fort Walton Beach’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Fort Walton Beach’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Fort Walton Beach →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Fort Walton Beach

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See fwb.org for Fort Walton Beach’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Fort Walton Beach yet.fwb.org ↗
Who works for Fort Walton Beach

One full-time city employee for every 93 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (22,396).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police61 + 6 pt
Parks & libraries42 + 27 pt
Fire36
Sewer & trash33
Administration & buildings27 + 8 pt
Roads & transportation13
Water & other utilities12
Housing & development4
Other12
240
full-time
41
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2022
$13.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$54,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
44
sworn police officers
35
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Fort Walton Beach didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Okaloosa County School District

Fort Walton Beach’s K–12 school district, shared with Cinco Bayou, Crestview, Destin, Laurel Hill, Mary Esther and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Fort Walton Beach →
$11,131
per pupil · FL $13,006
32,426
students
$83 million
long-term debt

Of the $11,131 per pupil, $6,828 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 52%State 38%Federal 10%

Florida districts overall: 55% local, 29% state, 15% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Fort Walton Beach’s votes are counted by county

Florida reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fort Walton Beach alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Okaloosa County’s results.

President · Okaloosa County’s results114,225 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican70.3%80,309 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat28.1%32,074 votes

Others: 1.6% (1,842 votes).

Most votes in Okaloosa County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of Fort Walton Beach lies in Okaloosa County. Every 2024 race in Okaloosa County is on the county’s page.

Okaloosa County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Fort Walton Beach

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Fort Walton Beach.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: fwb.org ↗
  2. 2
    Florida HouseState representatives
    Patt Maney
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
    Jay Trumbull
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Ron DeSantis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jimmy Patronis
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Florida
    Rick ScottAshley Moody

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Fort Walton Beach compares with the towns next door

Fort Walton Beach spent $1,956 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $714 to $1,230. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Wright: unincorporated, no town budgetMary Esther: $1,230 per resident (2022)Ocean City: unincorporated, no town budgetHurlburt Field: unincorporated, no town budgetCinco Bayou: $714 per resident (2022)WrightMary EstherOcean CityHurlburt FieldCinco BayouFort Walton Beach
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Cinco Bayou$714$2,587
Mary Esther$1,230$1,697
Fort Walton Beach$1,956$1,806

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Fort Walton Beach’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitefwb.org ↗

Questions about Fort Walton Beach’s government

How much does Fort Walton Beach spend per resident?

About $1,956 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,956 was more than 69% of 67 Florida cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Fort Walton Beach?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,806 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.56% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see fwb.org.

Who runs Fort Walton Beach’s government?

See fwb.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Fort Walton Beach yet.

How did Fort Walton Beach vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fort Walton Beach alone. Okaloosa County, where 100% of Fort Walton Beach lies, voted Trump 70.3%, Harris 28.1% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Fort Walton Beach?

240 full-time and 41 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $13.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Fort Walton Beach in the state legislature?

State Senate District 2 (Jay Trumbull) and State House District 4 (Patt Maney). The House district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Fort Walton Beach?

The next posted meeting is Special Magistrate on Wednesday, November 18, at 9:00 am in 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Fort Walton Beach’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →