August 18, 2025 Regular BOCC Meeting: General Business – Are Fee Hikes and Contracts Draining Wakulla’s Wallet?

Wakulla County folks, the General Business items (12–14) on the August 18, 2025, BOCC agenda might hit your wallet and fuel concerns about unchecked spending. County staff tout these as necessary for services and infrastructure, but with residents fed up over rising costs and development, let’s scrutinize what’s really at stake.

Item 12 extends the Waste Pro contract to 2030, eliminates curbside recycling, and raises rates (4% collection, 3% disposal from 2026). The $3M annual budget, funded by solid waste fees, sounds covered, but higher fees and less convenient recycling could burden households. Dropping curbside recycling for a landfill drop-off center might tank recycling rates, and the reduced performance bond (100% to 50%) weakens Waste Pro’s accountability. Is this about efficiency or cutting corners?

Item 13 hikes fees for parks and recreation—think $50 to $55 for youth sports, $100 to $150 for park rentals, and new vendor fees for events ($150–$1,400). Staff claim this generates $21,000 to cover costs, but higher fees could price out families, especially low-income ones, and discourage community events. Are we prioritizing revenue over access to public spaces?

Item 14 funds flood mitigation for Lift Station #3 in Panacea ($203,764, with $152,823 from FEMA and a $50,941 county match). While flood protection is critical, coastal infrastructure upgrades could signal more development in flood-prone areas, which many of you oppose. The county match, though budgeted, adds to taxpayer costs, and a termination clause risks losing funds mid-project.

Staff frame these as “community good,” but residents see rising fees and taxes as a slow squeeze. Projects like Item 14 may enable growth rather than protect existing communities. With $3M for Waste Pro and new recreation fees, the budget feels stretched, especially when development pressures are already a sore point.

What You Can Do: Contact your commissioners. Ask about the Waste Pro contract. How do fee hikes affect families? Does lift station funding prioritize developers? Request detailed budgets and push for policies that keep costs down and preserve our rural vibe. Your input can shape these decisions—make it count!