Okaloosa County, Florida
From Sunshine Review
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Okaloosa County is one of 67 counties in Florida. The county was created in June 1915. [1] Crestview is the county seat and the largest municipality in the county.
Okaloosa County is situated in northwest Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate of the county's population is 182,172.[2]
The county-wide school district is the Okaloosa County School District.
[edit] Sheriff indicted
On April 23, 2009, Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris and Teresa Adams, his administrative director, were indicted by a federal grand jury. The indictment alleges that on 26 occasions between May of 2007 and February of 2009, Morris and Adams conspired to obtain kickbacks from bonuses provided to Sheriff's Office employees. Morris and Adams face 65 years in jail.[3],[4]
[edit] Evaluation of website
- Main article: Evaluation of Florida county websites
[edit] The good
- Budget is available.[5]
- Board meeting schedule[6], minutes[7], and agendas[8] are posted.
- County commissioners are listed with contact information.[9]
- Building permits[10] and zoning information is available.[11]
- Local tax information is available.[12]
[edit] The bad
- There is a page for contracts, but currently contains no information.[13]
- Does not disclose if belongs to taxpayer-funded lobbying associations.
- Includes a public records search, but not how to make a public records request.[14]
- There is no information on audits and contracts.
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying
Okaloosa County has reported $320,000 spent on lobbying since 2006 (see table). Okaloosa County pays for services of the lobbying firm Alcade & Fay. [15]
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying |
|---|---|
| 2009 | $50,000 |
| 2008 | $130,000 |
| 2007 | $120,000 |
| 2006 | $20,000 |
[edit] Audits
For Okaloosa County, the clerk or comptroller performs the internal audits.[17]
[edit] External links
- Official Okaloosa County Website
- Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners
- Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections
- Okaloosa County Property Appraiser
- Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
- Okaloosa County Tax Collector
- Okaloosa County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Okaloosa County on E-Reference
- Okaloosa School District
- Okaloosa County Economic Development Corporation
- Okaloosa County Free Public Records Directory
- Okaloosa County on Epodunk
[edit] References
- ↑ Hutchinson, Leonard Patrick, "History of the Playground Area of Northwest Florida", Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, Florida, 1st ed., 1961, no Library of Congress card number, no ISBN, page 41.
- ↑ 2005 U.S. Census estimate
- ↑ Copy of Charlie Morris indictment
- ↑ Northwest Florida Daily News, "Sheriff Morris, employee face 65 years", April 23, 2009
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Calendar
- ↑ Minutes
- ↑ Agendas
- ↑ Commissioners
- ↑ Permits
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Tax Collector
- ↑ Contracts
- ↑ Public Records Search
- ↑ Client List
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ PBC Clerk & Comptroller 5.30.07
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