Chamber Resolution Supports Half-Cent Sales Tax

     Destin, FL, June 4 - During its May 24 meeting, the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors passed a resolution in support of the half-cent sales tax for the Okaloosa County School District, with funds generated to be used for technology equipment, bandwidth and retrofit, HVAC projects, and capital improvement projects.

     “I don’t look at this as a tax; I look at it as in investment in our future,” explained Chamber Chairman Brian Haugen, Emerald Coast Wealth Advisors of Raymond James & Associates, about the Board’s decision to support the increase. “Okaloosa County has always prided itself on its excellent academic record, and now we lack the broadband to power our computers. Combined with severely deteriorated infrastructure, this leaves us with either a property rate tax hike, which we don’t support; a millage rate hike, which we don’t support; or sales tax increase, which only partially affects our residents. Every county in the state either has an increase in tax or has it up for vote at this time due to the decrease in state and local funding.”

     The Board encourages residents in Okaloosa County to vote “yes” to approve this sales tax increase during the August primary.