Okaloosa County accepts $1 million state grant for first phase of Santa Rosa Boulevard project; approves $2.8 million local match

Okaloosa County commissioners on Oct. 21 approved acceptance of a $1 million state grant to construct the first phase of the Santa Rosa Boulevard project and authorized a $2,802,281 budget transfer from fiscal year 2026 surtax reserves to cover the required local match.

Scott Bitterman, public works, said the grant will fund the first phase of work from First Beach Park East to the Brooks Bridge project limits. He told commissioners it is still unknown whether electric and cable utilities along the corridor will be buried and that Florida Power & Light will provide a binding cost estimate for burying the utilities; that estimate will be brought back to the board for direction.

Bitterman asked the board to designate the county administrator as the authorizing official to sign the grant agreement and to sign future documents associated with the award; the board approved the requested authority and budget transfer unanimously.

“Because of the board's prioritization, the state's awarding us with a $1,000,000 to construct the first phase of Santa Rosa Boulevard project,” Bitterman said. He noted the county will return with cost estimates from FPL on burying electric and cable lines and will seek direction once those figures are available.

The action includes approving the grant agreement, designating the county administrator as the authorizing official, and approving the transfer from surtax reserves to provide the local match. The vote was unanimous.