MILTON — Locating Santa Rosa County’s new courthouse to downtown Milton has been a source of disagreement as commissioners discuss a proposed ordinance establishing a half-cent sales tax.
The proposal sets a half-cent sales tax to fund the judicial center. The language includes a five-year limit and the judicial center’s location as adjacent to the current courthouse in Milton.
In August, county residents can vote on this tax and another half-cent tax, which would fund capital needs.
Commissioners Bob Cole and Don Salter initially opposed the Milton site.
“Downtown was not my preferred location …,” Salter said during Thursday’s regular meeting. “I always liked the Highway 90 site. However, we went through a three-year process where we evaluated numerous locations. It was the will of the majority of this board to move consideration for downtown.
“I'm not going to oppose it because I've been on the losing end before. That's why we have five commissioners sitting up here, trying to come up with the best solution. Even though it wasn't my preferred choice in the beginning, I'm willing to let the people of Santa Rosa County make the decision, and like I said all along we need a new courthouse.”
By the end of discussion, Cole said he would withdraw his opposition to let residents vote on the matter.
He later said he believes if the sales tax fails in August, it allows commissioners to consider other locations again.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County Commissioners let residents choose courthouse location