From policing to paychecks, study gives glimpse into what a city of Navarre could cost

Preserve Navarre has released its study on the feasibility of incorporating Navarre into a city. The over 100-page document outlines the group's intentions from overarching goals, all the way to police services and potential salary amounts for the would-be city's public officials.

Preserve Navarre is one of two groups — alongside Navarre Area United PAC — currently vying to incorporate Navarre.

Two previous attempts to incorporate Navarre in 2006 and 2014 failed, and the most recent effort — aimed at the 2020 ballot — was led by Navarre Area United PAC but ended prematurely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here is a look at some of the key points from the document, and what the next steps are moving forward.

Background on the feasibility study:Is a city of Navarre even feasible? Two studies will answer the question next month

Local news in Navarre:Some Navarre High students couldn't get prom tickets, so parents organized their own.

What's in the study?

The group outlined its goals to include things such as establishing a sense of home rule, establishing localized zoning regulations and infrastructure maintenance, and potentially establishing a redevelopment agency in the community to tackle issues like parking and blight.

"This is simply something where I think that the area deserves to have its own representation and to have home rule. I believe that Navarre deserves that, and they would handle it well," said the group's director, Wes Siler. "And so, we need to make sure that that message is getting out and that people see us for who we are."

The feasibility study includes five years of projected city budgets. For the purposes of the study, it is assumed the city of Navarre will receive the same level of service it does currently for its first year.

In years two through five, the budget estimates expenses "at the level of a full-service city, under the theory that by at least year five, the residents may desire a higher level of service than they are currently receiving."

The projected fiscal year 2024 budget estimates just over $4.516 million in revenue for a city of Navarre and about $4.498 million in expenses, for a total surplus of about $18,000.

By year five, in fiscal year 2028, the draft budget estimates a budget of $22.4 million. The expenses are calculated to be about on par, leaving a $11,536 surplus.

Some of the big-ticket items on the budget projection include:

• A speaker of the council who will earn $4,160 annually the first year
• Six city council members who will earn $3,640 annually the first year
• Electric vehicle charging stations that will cost about $17,000 per station to install
• A transit bus system that will include a public commissioner role and several drivers
• A city hall set to cost $9 million
• A "Navarre Pride of the City Scholarship" fund that will end up totaling $30,000
• A homeless housing Initiative that will include a public commissioner role and several homeless assistance funds totaling $192,800 the first year of its inception 

In terms of boundaries, the group opted not to include Holley, but indicated the possibility of adding a historic district in Holley in the future if the voters in that area voice interest.

Preserve Navarre does include the neighborhood Holley By the Sea, which NAU PAC did not include in its proposed boundaries.

The total area of the group's proposal includes more than 23 square miles and about 43,500 people.

The study also outlines conversations between the group and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office have been taking place since the start of this year over potentially contracting the office's services in the would-be city.

"Continued collaboration will be required to determine more precisely what law enforcement services will be necessary and at what level of service," the study reads. "Once these decisions are rendered, the SRSO will then be able to contract with the Study Area's local government to provide the desired and necessary law enforcement services at the determined and required levels of service."

Siler told the News Journal the topic of a potential mayor's salary is still under consideration.

"That was kind of a back-and-forth. I don't know where we're going land on that. But I really want to hear more about that. And kind of the pros and cons of each," Siler said. "So, we might engage with some of the local cities and learn more about whether they pay their mayor or not, and why and how does that work out?"

However, looking at the study's five-year budget projection, the group includes salary estimates for a mayor-council style government in which the mayor would earn a little over $31,000 annually the first year.

Potential for collaboration?

Even with differences between the two groups' proposals — notably that include different boundaries — Siler said he recognizes Preserve Navarre and NAU PAC are working toward similar goals.

"We appreciate each other's motives," Siler said, adding that he has established a friendship with new chairman of NAU PAC, Jeremy Dykes. Siler said he does not know where that would lead the two groups as they both move forward though.

Dykes told the News Journal the two groups are experiencing "good communication," and are working as a cooperative effort.

"In the meantime, we're going to build our support for this proposal. We're going to make it as good as it can possibly be. We’re going to listen to citizen feedback," Siler said. "If it's strong one way or the other we’ll take that into account, update it and finish it. And that's where we're going to be for the next several months."

Changes coming to Navarre Park:What's coming to the newly renovated Navarre Park? Check out all the improvements.

The future of incorporation

The next step from Preserve Navarre is to complete a sample charter, which Siler said would be finished in about two months.

He also pointed out, financially speaking, his group's proposal relies on adjusting the county's millage rate to ensure that taxes are not raised for those that would live in an incorporated Navarre.

"I think (cutting the millage rate) is going to happen, I really do. I think it's got to happen. I think we've got to have a tax cut, and we're going to fight for it," Siler said. "So, it's hard for me to see any world where that doesn't happen."

Siler remained steadfast that cutting the millage rate countywide is a core element of his group's proposal, saying they will continue to push for it.

"It means that we stay on that until it happens. It means that we have to make that a primary focus," Siler said. "Because, I don't want to raise people's taxes. I really don't. I don't want to raise my taxes."

Even after all the necessary documentation is eventually finished by both groups, there is still the question over the need for a non-binding referendum supporting incorporation. Under current state Rep. Jayer Williamson, incorporation efforts need to reach 60% voter approval in a local non-binding referendum for him to bring the incorporation bill forward in the legislature.

Williamson filed a bill — House Bill 1035 — this past legislative session, which would have codified that personal requirement statewide, but it was among the slew of bills withdrawn from consideration after sitting stagnant in committee.

Now that Williamson has declined to run for re-election this year, his successor could potentially take up an incorporation bill without any step at the county level.

The full feasibility study is available at preservenavarre.com. Area residents are encouraged to submit their questions and comments on the website.