DeFuniak Springs approves $69.6 million budget; one council member objects to 9.5% CRA allocation

The DeFuniak Springs City Council voted to adopt a $69,597,610 budget at its Sept. 21 final budget meeting. The clerk asked for the motion and the council took a voice vote; the motion carried after several "Aye" responses and one "No."

Before casting their vote, one council member objected to a 9.5% allocation to the Community Redevelopment Agency, saying, "the amount of money uh the 9.5% that's going to the CRA I have a problem with that. I think we could have taken care of more needs than wants... I will not be supporting the current budget tonight." The objection prompted a roll-call-by-voice that resulted in the budget's adoption with at least four recorded ayes and one no. The transcript does not identify the dissenting member by name.

City staff followed statutory notice procedures during the meeting; the clerk referenced the required Florida-law announcements before moving to adoption. The council then moved to adjourn the session.