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CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE
FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
PREPARED BY:
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT
City of Fort Walton Beach
107 Miracle Strip Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
www.fwb.org
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Page
CITY OFFICIALS
I. INTRODUCTORY SECTION
Table of Contents i
Letter of Transmittal
City Manager iv
GFOA Certificate of Achievement x
Organizational Chart xi
II. FINANCIAL SECTION
Independent Auditors' Report 1
A. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 4
B. BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Government-Wide Financial Statements
Statement of Net Position 15
Statement of Activities 16
Fund Financial Statements
Governmental Funds
Balance Sheet 17
Reconciliation of the Balance Sheet to the Statement of Net Position 18
Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance 19
Reconciliation of the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes
in Fund Balance to the Statement of Activities 20
Proprietary Funds
Statement of Net Position 21
Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position 23
Statement of Cash Flows 24
Fiduciary Funds
Statement of Fiduciary Net Position 26
Statement of Changes in Fiduciary Net Position 27
Notes to the Financial Statements 28
i
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Page Schedule
II. FINANCIAL SECTION – CONTINUED
C. REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
Budgetary Comparison Information
Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance –
Budget and Actual – General Fund 78
Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance –
Budget and Actual – Community Redevelopment Agency 79
Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance –
Budget and Actual – Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund 80
Notes to the Budgetary Comparison Schedules 81
Pension and OPEB Schedules
Schedules of Changes in Net Pension Liability and Related Ratios 82
Schedule of Changes in Total OPEB Liability and Related Ratios 87
Schedule of Pension Contributions 88
Schedule of Investment Returns 89
Notes to the Schedule of Pension Contributions - General Employees'
Retirement Fund 90
Notes to the Schedule of Pension Contributions - Police Officers'
Retirement Fund 92
Notes to the Schedule of Pension Contributions - Firefighters'
Retirement Fund 94
D. COMBINING AND INDIVIDUAL FUND STATEMENTS AND
SCHEDULES
Non-Major Governmental Funds
Combining Balance Sheet 96
Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in
Fund Balance 97
Budgetary Comparison Schedules
Law Enforcement Trust Special Revenue Fund 98
Law Enforcement Trust Training Special Revenue Fund 99
Florida Building Code Special Revenue Fund 100
Community Development Block Grant Special Revenue Fund 101
III. STATISTICAL SECTION (UNAUDITED)
Net Position by Component 102 1
Changes in Net Position 103 2
Fund Balances – Governmental Funds 105 3
Changes in Fund Balances – Governmental Funds 106 4
Revenues and Other Sources 107 5
Assessed Value of Taxable Property 108 6
ii
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Page Schedule
III. STATISTICAL SECTION (UNAUDITED) – CONTINUED
Property Tax Rates Per $1,000 of Taxable Value - All Direct and
Overlapping Governments 109 7
Principal Taxpayers 110 8
Property Tax Levies and Collections 111 9
Ratios of Outstanding Debt by Type 112 10
Ratio of Net General Bonded Debt Outstanding 113 11
Pledged Revenue Coverage – Schedule of Revenue Bond Coverage 114 12
Direct and Overlapping Governmental Activities Debt – General Obligations 115 13
Major Employers 116 14
Miscellaneous Demographical Statistics 117 15
Full-Time Equivalent Employees by Function/Program 118 16
Permits, Licenses and Recreational Facilities 119 17
Elections – Okaloosa County Voter Registration 120 18
Special Assessment Billings and Collections 121 19
Major Revenue Sources 122 20
Water and Wastewater Service Rates 123 21
Sanitation and Recycling Service Rates 124 22
Operating Indicators by Function/Program 125 23
Capital Asset Statistics by Function/Program 126 24
Insurance Coverage 127 25
IV. COMPLIANCE SECTION
Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and
on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial
Statements Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards 130
Independent Accountants' Report on an Examination of Compliance
Requirements in Accordance with Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Florida
Auditor General 132
Management Letter 133
iii
City of Fort Walton Beach
“The Treasure of the Emerald Coast”
107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 833-9504 * Fax (850) 833-9640
www.fwb.org
March 27, 2026
Honorable Mayor, City Council Members,
& Citizens of the City of Fort Walton Beach
City of Fort Walton Beach
107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2025, is hereby submitted herewith pursuant to Chapter 218.39(1)(d) of the Florida
Statutes requiring each local government entity to complete an audit report within nine (9) months after the
end of the fiscal year.
This report consists of management’s representations concerning the finances of the City of Fort Walton
Beach, Florida. Consequently, management assumes full responsibility for the completeness and reliability
of all the information presented in this report. To provide a reasonable basis for making these
representations, management of the City of Fort Walton Beach has established a comprehensive internal
control framework that is designed both to protect the government’s assets from loss, theft, or misuse and
to compile sufficient reliable information for the preparation of the City’s financial statements in
conformance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Because the cost of internal controls
should not outweigh their benefits, the City’s comprehensive framework of internal controls has been
designed to provide reasonable, rather than absolute, assurance that the financial statements will be free
from material misstatement. As management, we assert that, to the best of our knowledge and belief, this
financial report is complete and reliable in all material respects.
The financial statements of the City of Fort Walton Beach have been audited by Warren Averett, LLC, a
firm of licensed certified public accountants. The goal of the independent audit was to provide reasonable
assurance that the financial statements of the City for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, are free
of material misstatement. The independent audit involved examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements; assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management; and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. The
independent auditor concluded, based upon the audit, that there was a reasonable basis for rendering an
unmodified opinion that the City of Fort Walton Beach’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2025, are fairly presented in conformity with GAAP. The independent auditor’s report is
presented in Section II - Financial Section as the first component of this section of the report.
Generally accepted accounting principles require that management provide a narrative introduction,
overview, and analysis to accompany the basic financial statements in the form of Management’s
Discussion and Analysis (MD&A). This letter of transmittal is designed to complement MD&A and should
be read in conjunction with it. The City of Fort Walton Beach’s MD&A can be found immediately following
the report of the independent auditor.
iv
GOVERNMENT PROFILE
DATE OF INCORPORATION: June 16, 1941
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Council & Manager PAVED STREETS: 93.12 miles
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: 7.60 square miles SIDEWALKS: 63.67 miles
TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUE: $2,197,593,063 WATER & SEWER LINES: 282.82 miles
CITY MILLAGE RATE: 4.3282 STORM DRAIN: 43.18 miles
POPULATION: 21,120 POLICE STATIONS: 1 FIRE STATIONS: 2
EMPLOYEES: 362 positions, 317.51 FTE’s LIBRARIES: 1 MUSEUMS: 4
SWORN POLICE OFFICERS: 54 18-HOLE GOLF COURSES: 2
FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL: 44 ACRES OF PARKS: 206
The City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida prides itself on being a small, family-oriented seaside community
boasting a downtown area that was home to a significant prehistoric Native American community on the
Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida. Situated at the junction of two major highways - US 98 (Miracle Strip
Parkway) and SR 85 (Eglin Parkway) - Fort Walton Beach enjoys the benefits of its crossroads location
along the coastal portion of the Northwest Florida regional transportation network. The City offers a full-
service government providing police and fire protection; cultural and recreational activities including parks,
a library, a museum, and two championship golf courses; planning and zoning; public works such as street,
sidewalk, right-of-way, and cemetery maintenance; utility services including water, sewer, and stormwater;
and garbage and recycling collection to a coastal community of over 20,000 residents.
The City has an exciting and romantic history. As early as 600 B.C., Indian tribes were
attracted to Fort Walton Beach from the Mississippi and Tennessee River Valleys and
the Southeast Georgia coast. The beginning for the City occurred following the War
Between the States when Alabama war veteran John Brooks selected a site of 111 acres
where he built a three-room cabin in 1867. Other settlers soon followed. By 1884, the
population of the area required establishment of a small schoolhouse. In 1902, the first
hotel, Brooks House, was built along the sound and shortly thereafter the first post
office was built in 1906. The Montgomery, Alabama, Maxwell Field military base
First Schoolhouse
developed an airfield in Fort Walton in 1933 on 137 acres of land and used it as a
bombing and gunnery range. The most significant factor in the City's growth was the creation and later
expansion, of that airfield, which is now Eglin Air Force Base (the largest military installation in the world)
in 1937, the year the City Charter was adopted. Originally chartered as a municipality under the laws of the
State of Florida, actual formation of the City was in 1941 when the Florida Legislature officially named it
the Town of Fort Walton. In 1953, the Florida Legislature granted the City a new charter at which time the
name was changed to Fort Walton Beach. The name Walton originates from Colonel George Walton, who
was Secretary of the East-West Florida Territory in 1822-26 and son of George Walton, signer of the
Declaration of Independence and Governor of Georgia.
The presence of the military base provided the key economic stimulus for the City's early growth,
supplemented by the attractiveness of the location. The City enjoyed a substantial population and economic
boom from the 1950's through the end of the 1970's. Subsequently, things started to slow down. The military
base became less important to the City's economy than the growing tourism industry. In the late 1960’s and
early 1970’s Fort Walton Beach began to experience a decline in economic prosperity, some of which can
be attributed to the utility and transportation infrastructure getting older and commercial and residential
structures becoming deteriorated. New development began to take place in the surrounding communities.
The City, having nearly run out of developable land, started to focus attention on finding ways to induce
private enterprise investment in the City and thus capturing a greater share of the local and regional market.
v
The City’s premier gathering place along the Santa Rosa Sound has been the Landing Park since its
purchase in 1986. In Spring 2023, the Landing Park renovations commenced with Phase 1 of this project,
with Phase 3 initiated in late 2024, and is slated to be finished in 2026. Building upon that with the complete
reconstruction of Brooks Street, including Brooks Bridge Park in 2013, the City’s downtown waterfront
was opened to an extent never realized and spurred economic growth downtown. Outside of downtown, the
City completed construction of a new recreational complex in 2015 and a new field office complex in 2019,
which has added to the attraction of the City. Additionally, a 4,500 square foot Museum addition and a new
Beal Cemetery Administration Building were completed in 2025, which have been tremendous additions
to the City. In 2026, a 12-acre Preston Hood Athletic Complex expansion broke ground and the Liza
Jackson Park waterfront renovations will begin. A “once in a lifetime” project on the horizon, “Around the
Mound”, will connect the then newly built Brooks Bridge to Highway 98, around the Heritage Park and
Cultural Center. This will allow the City of Fort Walton Beach to have a true “downtown” atmosphere.
Fort Walton Beach Landing Rendering
The financial reporting entity (the government) includes all the funds and account groups of the City of
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, as well as component units. Component units are legally separate entities for
which the primary government is financially accountable. Accordingly, the Fort Walton Beach Community
Redevelopment Agency is reported as a blended component unit of the City of Fort Walton Beach.
The budget process begins in March, which includes Finance staff preparing the new fiscal year's
documentation. The City Charter charges the City Manager with the duty of presenting a balanced budget
to the City Council. The budget is considered balanced if the total of all available financial resources (either
on hand at the beginning of the year or generated during the year) equals or exceeds the total of all financial
requirements. In August, the City Manager's proposed budget is presented to City Council for review and
discussion. During September, two public hearings to formally adopt the millage (property tax) rate and
budget are held per State Statute. The adopted budget is published no later than October 1.
In April, the City Council, acting as the Legislative Body of the City, holds at least one (1) strategic planning
session, if needed. The goals set during this meeting are used by staff to formulate the budget that is
presented to City Council. In June, the tentative millage rate is set, and staff determines Council’s priorities
and position on issues specific to development of the operational and capital budgets for the upcoming
fiscal year. City Council’s decisions provide the framework under which the budget is prepared to meet
City Council’s programmatic objectives within available fiscal resources. The meeting is open to the public
and the public is encouraged to attend and participate.
Department Directors are responsible for identifying their staffing needs, operational funding needs within
budget development parameters, five-year capital requests, as well as corresponding revenue sources to
fund their needs. In addition, they must conduct a comprehensive review of departmental goals, objectives,
and metrics.
vi
The City Charter charges the City Manager with the duty of presenting a balanced budget to City Council.
To accomplish this goal, a Budget Committee is formed comprised of the City Manager, Finance Director,
and Budget Analyst. The Committee conducts comprehensive meetings with Department Directors to
review their budget requests and a collaborative effort is undertaken to achieve City Council and department
goals within fiscal constraints.
The Budget Committee enlists assistance for areas of specialized interests, such as the Information
Technology Director for computer issues; the Administrative Services Director for employee benefits,
personnel, and risk management issues; and the Fleet Supervisor for vehicle and equipment replacement
schedules. Department goals, objectives, and metrics are also evaluated during budget development to
determine the effectiveness of program activities and appropriate funding levels. After the departmental
meetings, the Budget Committee finalizes the proposed budget given revenue projections, economic
conditions, funding requirements, and City Council program priorities and issues previously identified in
the budget process. Once a balanced budget is achieved, it is presented to City Council for consideration.
The City Council is required by Florida Statutes and the City Charter to hold public hearings on the
proposed budget and adopt a final budget no later than September 30th, the close of the City’s fiscal year.
The appropriated budget is prepared by fund, department (e.g. financial services), and division (e.g.
purchasing). Department Directors may request transfers of appropriations within a department and
between divisions to transfer appropriations between line items, not to increase the total budget or to transfer
resources between funds. Transfers of appropriations between funds require the approval of the City
Council. The budget may be amended at any time by Resolution of City Council. Budget-to-actual
comparisons are provided in the report for each individual governmental fund for which an appropriated
annual budget has been adopted. For the General Fund, the Community Redevelopment Agency Fund, and
the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, this comparison is presented on pages 78-81 as required
supplementary information. For governmental funds with appropriated annual budgets, other than those
previously mentioned, this comparison is presented with the combining and individual fund statements and
schedules (Section D of this report) which starts on page 96.
FACTORS AFFECTING FINANCIAL CONDITION
The information presented in the financial statements is best understood when it is considered from the
broader perspective of the specific environment within which the City of Fort Walton Beach operates.
Local Economy
The FY 2025-2026 budget of $65,247,932 is $4.7M, or 7.74%, more than the adopted FY 2024-2025
budget. The increase is primarily due to rising costs of items like materials, utilities, and fuel; as well as the
addition of multiple capital improvement projects. The budget is predicated on a millage rate of 4.3282
mills; as a result, ad valorem revenues will increase by 5.44% city-wide as compared to the final 2023
Certification of Taxable Value DR-420.
Eglin Air Force Base is the world’s largest Department of Defense installation, spanning over 640 square
miles. Defense contractor companies are established throughout the Northwest Florida region. It is
estimated that local military bases currently represent a $9B annual economic impact on the area, with 72%
or the local economy in jobs alone supported by the military.
Being located on the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida, tourism is a large part of the regional economy.
Regional accolades continue to enhance the area’s image, promote visibility, and generate additional
tourism and sales tax dollars. Local tourism has benefited from the national shift to vacation sites accessible
by driving instead of flying. The Fort Walton Beach-Destin area is a popular drivable destination in Florida,
according to a survey of auto visitors by Visit Florida.
vii
Long-Term Financial Planning
The City undertakes several processes to assist in future planning, such as:
A five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan is developed and approved by City Council
each year during the annual budget process.
Five-year replacement plans for capital equipment, including vehicles, equipment, and computer
hardware and software, are also developed and approved by management each year during the
annual budget process.
Annual Strategic Plan, which focuses on a one-to-three-year time period.
Relevant Financial Policies
The City has several financial policies that are utilized during daily operations, as well as during the budget
and financial planning processes. The City utilizes fund balance reserves only for one-time non-recurring
expenditures. In addition, the City maintains its fund balance level in the General Fund at 30% of fund
expenditures – this policy helps to ensure that the City has sufficient funding in place for emergency and
disaster relief.
Major Initiatives
These financial policies, as well as other indicators, were considered when adopting the City’s budget for
FY 2025-2026. The City’s budget for FY 2025-2026 allocates $32.2M to the General Fund, $22.4M to the
Enterprise Funds, and $10.6M to Other Funds.
For the FY 2025-2026 budget, the ad valorem rate remained at the millage rate of 4.3282 mills. The FY
2025-2026 budget includes a new five-year utility rate study, which was adopted by City Council in
September 2025. The utility rate study included recommendations on rate structures for water and
wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste. No other significant changes to the City’s various rates and fees
are included in the FY 2024-2025 budget.
AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Awards
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Fort Walton Beach for its
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, which the
City has received for over 20 consecutive years. To be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, the City must
publish an easily readable and efficiently organized ACFR, satisfying both GAAP and applicable legal
requirements. A Certificate of Achievement is valid for a period of one (1) year only. Staff believes the
current report continues to meet the Certificate of Achievement Program requirements and will be
submitted to the GFOA to determine its eligibility for recertification.
In addition, the City also received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its annual
budget dated October 1, 2025. The City has received this prestigious award for 30 consecutive years. To
qualify for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the City’s budget document was judged proficient
in several categories, including as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a
communications device.
viii
Acknowledgments
The preparation of this report would not have been possible without the efficient and dedicated services of
the entire staff of the Finance Department. I would like to express my appreciation to all members of the
Department who assisted and contributed to the preparation of this report.
I would also like to thank the Mayor and City Council for their unfailing support for maintaining the highest
standards of professionalism in the management of the City of Fort Walton Beach’s finances and for their
attention in conducting the financial operations of the City in a responsible and progressive manner.
Appreciation is also expressed to the accounting firm of Warren Averett, LLC for their continued assistance
and professionalism.
Respectfully submitted,
X
Jason Davis
City Manager
ix
Government Finance Officers Association
Certificate of
Achievement
for Excellence
in Financial
Reporting
Presented to
City of Fort Walton Beach
Florida
For its Annual Comprehensive
Financial Report
For the Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2024
Executive Director/CEO
x
Citizens of
Fort Walton Beach
City
Council
City Clerk City Manager
3 FTE 3.25 FTE City Attorney
0400 0200 & 0210
Public Works
Growth Management Financial Services Fire Services Human Resources Police Services Recreation Services
And Utility Services
14.25 FTE 16 FTE & 1 Contract 43.25 FTE 8.50 FTE 74.20 FTE 71.20 FTE
80 FTE
1200 to 1217 & 2000 0500 & 0520 & 0530 0900 0300 & 0320 0800 1000 to 1080
1220-1240 & 1300-1380
Utility Administration Building Inspections Accounting Advanced Life Human Resources Uniform Patrol Athletics – Adult &
& Permitting Support Youth
Fleet & Facilities Auditing Insurance & Risk K-9 Patrol
Code Enforcement Fire Suppression Management Recreation Centers
GIS/CAD Budgeting Criminal and Programming
CDBG Fire Prevention IT Investigations
Sanitation Purchasing Grounds
Planning Fire Inspection Community Maintenance: Parks,
Sewer Collections Debt Service & Policing/CRA
CRA Management Hazardous Right-Of-Way and
Stormwater Materials Crime Prevention Cemetery
Treasury Response
Streets Communications Library
Utility Billing Fire Education
Water Distribution Records Museum
Contingencies &
Water Operations Transfers Support Services Golf Club Operations
School Crossing
Guards
Reserve Officers
xi
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements
Opinions
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the governmental activities, the business-type
activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of the City of Fort Walton Beach,
Florida (the City), as of and for the year ended September 30, 2025, and the related notes to the financial
statements, which collectively comprise the City’s basic financial statements as listed in the table of
contents.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
respective financial position of the governmental activities, the business-type activities, each major fund,
and the aggregate remaining fund information of the City, as of September 30, 2025, and the respective
changes in financial position and, where applicable, cash flows thereof, for the year then ended in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinions
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards,
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Our responsibilities under those standards are
further described in the Auditors’ Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our
report. We are required to be independent of the City and to meet our other ethical responsibilities, in
accordance with the relevant ethical requirements relating to our audit. We believe that the audit evidence
we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinions.
Responsibilities of Management for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and for the
design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair
presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or
error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is required to evaluate whether there are conditions or
events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the City’s ability to continue as a
going concern for twelve months beyond the financial statement date, including any currently known
information that may raise substantial doubt shortly thereafter.
1
Auditors’ Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors’ report that
includes our opinions. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance
and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards and Government Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from
error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of
internal control. Misstatements are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually
or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable user based on the financial
statements.
In performing an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and Government Auditing
Standards, we:
Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such
procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures
that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the City’s internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed.
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant
accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the
financial statements.
Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate,
that raise substantial doubt about the City’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable
period of time.
We are required to communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters,
the planned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings, and certain internal control-related
matters that we identified during the audit.
Required Supplementary Information
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that the management’s
discussion and analysis, the budgetary comparison information for the General Fund and major special
revenue funds, and the schedules related to the pension and OPEB liabilities, contributions, and
investment returns, as listed in the table of contents, be presented to supplement the basic financial
statements. Such information is the responsibility of management and, although not a part of the basic
financial statements, is required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, who considers it to
be an essential part of financial reporting for placing the basic financial statements in an appropriate
operational, economic, or historical context. We have applied certain limited procedures to the required
supplementary information in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States
of America, which consisted of inquiries of management about the methods of preparing the information
and comparing the information for consistency with management’s responses to our inquiries, the basic
financial statements, and other knowledge we obtained during our audit of the basic financial statements.
We do not express an opinion or provide any assurance on the information because the limited procedures
do not provide us with sufficient evidence to express an opinion or provide any assurance.
2
Supplementary Information
Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming opinions on the financial statements that collectively
comprise the City’s basic financial statements. The combining and individual nonmajor fund financial
statements and schedules are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part
of the basic financial statements. Such information is the responsibility of management and was derived
from and relates directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the basic financial
statements. The information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the
basic financial statements and certain additional procedures, including comparing and reconciling such
information directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the basic financial
statements or to the basic financial statements themselves, and other additional procedures in accordance
with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. In our opinion, the combining
and individual nonmajor fund financial statements and schedules are fairly stated, in all material respects,
in relation to the basic financial statements as a whole.
Other Information
Management is responsible for the other information included in the annual report. The other information
comprises the introductory and statistical sections but does not include the basic financial statements and
our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinions on the basic financial statements do not cover the other
information, and we do not express an opinion or any form of assurance thereon.
In connection with our audit of the basic financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other
information and consider whether a material inconsistency exists between the other information and the
basic financial statements, or the other information otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based
on the work performed, we conclude that an uncorrected material misstatement of the other information
exists, we are required to describe it in our report.
Other Reporting Required by Government Auditing Standards
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated March 27,
2026, on our consideration of the City’s internal control over financial reporting and on our tests of its
compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements and other
matters. The purpose of that report is to describe the scope of our testing of internal control over financial
reporting and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on internal control
over financial reporting or on compliance. That report is an integral part of an audit performed in
accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the City’s internal control over financial
reporting and compliance.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
March 27, 2026
3
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
As management of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida (the City), we offer readers of the City’s financial
statements this narrative overview and analysis of the financial activities of the City for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2025. We encourage readers to consider the information presented here in
conjunction with additional information that we have furnished in our letter of transmittal, which can be
found on pages iv - ix of this report.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The assets and deferred outflows of resources of the City exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows
of resources by $99.0 million (total net position). Of this amount, $19.2 million represents unrestricted
net position that is available to meet the City’s ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors.
The City’s net position increased by $5.3 million during the fiscal year. Net position for governmental
activities rose by $3.4 million, primarily driven by robust market performance that yielded $2.4 million
in investment earnings. Business-type activities contributed an additional $1.9 million increase, as
revenues exceeded total expenses and transfers. This growth was largely supported by capital grants
and contributions; specifically, $786,644 from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the
Brooks Bridge utility relocation and $227,108 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP) for Martisa Road NW stormwater improvements. Outside of these capital-related grant
projects, operating expenses and charges for services remained stable compared to the prior year.
As of the close of the fiscal year, the City’s governmental funds have combined ending fund balances
of $39.7 million, a decrease of $4.0 million from the prior year. This decrease is mainly attributable to
an increase in the number and scope of planned capital projects completed during the year and in
progress at year end.
As of September 30, 2025, committed, assigned, and unassigned fund balance of the General Fund
totaled $25.0 million, or 51.6% of the total General Fund expenditures.
The City’s total debt decreased by $1.9 million or 5.2%, during the fiscal year. This decrease is
proportional to scheduled principal payments and issuance of leases and subscription liabilities.
OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
This discussion and analysis is intended to serve as an introduction to the City’s basic financial statements,
which are comprised of three components: 1) government-wide financial statements, 2) fund financial
statements, and 3) notes to the financial statements. This report also contains other supplementary
information in addition to the basic financial statements themselves.
The focus of financial statements prepared in accordance with the Governmental Accounting Standards
Board (GASB) Statement No. 34 is on both the City as a whole (government-wide) and on major individual
funds. Both perspectives (government-wide and major funds) allow the user to address relevant questions,
broaden a basis for comparison (year-to-year or government-to-government), and enhance the City’s
accountability.
Government-Wide Financial Statements
Designed to be corporate-like, the government-wide financial statements consolidate governmental and
business-type activities into two columns, which sum to a total for primary government. This provides
readers with a broad overview of the City’s finances in a manner similar to a private-sector business. Two
statements, the statement of net position and the statement of activities, are utilized to provide information
on a government-wide basis.
4
The statement of net position presents information on all the City’s assets and liabilities, with the difference
between the two reported as net position. This statement combines and consolidates the governmental
funds’ current financial resources (short-term available resources) with capital assets and long-term
obligations. Over time, increases or decreases in net position may serve as a useful indicator of the
financial position of the City.
The statement of activities presents information showing how the government’s net position changed
during the most recent fiscal year. All changes in net position are reported as soon as the underlying event
giving rise to the change occurs, regardless of the timing of related cash flows. Thus, revenues and
expenses are reported in this statement for some items that will only result in cash flow in future fiscal
periods.
Both of the government-wide financial statements distinguish functions of the City that are principally
supported by taxes and intergovernmental revenues (governmental activities) from other functions that
are intended to recover all or a significant portion of their costs through user fees and charges (business-
type activities). The governmental activities of the City include general government (city clerk, city council,
city manager, human resources, finance, purchasing, fleet maintenance, service maintenance, and non-
departmental expenses), public safety (police, fire, building, and code enforcement services), physical
environment (cemetery), transportation (engineering, streets, public works, and right-of-way), economic
development (Community Development Block Grant Program, and community redevelopment agency),
and culture and recreation (parks, golf, library, and museum). The business-type activities of the City
include utilities (water, sewer, and storm water), and sanitation.
The government-wide financial statements include not only the City itself (known as the primary
government), but a component unit, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), which is a legally
separate entity for which the City is financially accountable. The CRA is considered a blended component
unit of the City and is presented as a special revenue fund as part of the primary government. The
government-wide financial statements are found on pages 15-16 of this report.
Fund Financial Statements
A fund is a grouping of related accounts used to maintain control over resources that have been separated
for specific activities or objectives. The City, like other state and local governments, uses fund accounting
to ensure and demonstrate compliance with finance-related legal requirements. All the funds of the City
can be divided into three categories: governmental funds, proprietary funds, and fiduciary funds.
FUNDS
Governmental Funds
Governmental funds are used to account for essentially the same functions reported as governmental
activities in the government-wide financial statements. However, unlike the government-wide financial
statements, governmental fund financial statements are reported using an accounting method called
modified accrual accounting, the focus of which is on near-term inflows and outflows of spendable
resources, as well as on balances of spendable resources available at the end of the fiscal year. Such
information may be useful in evaluating a government’s near-term financial requirements. The basic
governmental fund financial statements are on pages 17-20 of this report.
Because the focus of governmental funds is narrower than that of the government-wide financial
statements, it is useful to compare the information presented for governmental funds with similar
information presented for governmental activities in the government-wide financial statements. By doing
so, readers may better understand the long-term impact of the government’s near-term financing
decisions. Both the governmental fund balance sheet and the governmental fund statement of revenues,
expenditures, and changes in fund balance provide a reconciliation to facilitate this comparison between
governmental funds and governmental activities.
5
The City maintains seven individual governmental funds (General Fund, Community Redevelopment
Agency Fund, Florida Building Code Fund, Law Enforcement Trust Fund, Law Enforcement Training Fund,
Community Development Block Grant Fund and Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund).
Information is presented separately in the governmental fund balance sheet and in the governmental fund
statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance for the General Fund, the Community
Redevelopment Agency Fund and the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund. Data from the other
four governmental funds is combined into a single, aggregated presentation. Individual fund data for each
of these non-major governmental funds is provided in the form of combining statements elsewhere in this
report. The Community Redevelopment Agency Fund and the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care
Fund are considered major funds for reporting purposes.
The City of Fort Walton Beach adopts an annual appropriated budget for its General Fund, as well as each
of the other governmental funds. Budgetary comparison schedules are provided for the General Fund and
the major special revenue funds on pages 78-81 of this report.
Proprietary Funds
All proprietary funds of the City are maintained as enterprise funds. Enterprise funds are used to report
the same functions presented as business-type activities in the statement of net position and the statement
of activities. The City uses enterprise funds to account for its utility operations (water operations and
distribution, sewer collections and treatment, and stormwater management), and sanitation operations
(garbage).
Proprietary funds provide the same type of information as the government-wide financial statements, only
in more detail. The proprietary fund financial statements provide separate information on utilities
operations, sanitation operations, and stormwater operations, all of which are presented as major funds
of the City. The basic proprietary fund financial statements are found on pages 21-25 of this report.
Fiduciary Funds
Fiduciary funds are used to account for resources held for the benefit of parties outside the government.
The City’s fiduciary funds include the pension trust funds (General Employees, Police Officers, and
Firefighters). Fiduciary funds are not reflected in the government-wide financial statements because the
resources of those funds are not available to support the City’s own programs. The accounting used for
fiduciary funds is much like that used for proprietary funds. The basic fiduciary fund financial statements
are found on pages 26-27 of this report.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The notes to the financial statements provide additional information that is essential to the full
understanding of the data provided in the government-wide and fund financial statements. The notes to
the financial statements begin on page 28 of this report.
OTHER INFORMATION
In addition to the basic financial statements and accompanying notes, this report also presents certain
required supplementary information concerning the City’s progress in funding its obligation to provide
pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) to its employees. The required supplementary
information is found on pages 82-95 of this report.
The combining and individual non-major funds statements and schedules referred to earlier in connection
with non-major governmental funds immediately follows the required supplementary information on
pension and OPEB plans and can be found beginning on page 96 of this report.
6
GOVERNMENT-WIDE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
As noted earlier, net position may serve over time as a useful indicator of a government’s financial position.
Assets and deferred outflows of resources of the City exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows of
resources by $99.0 million, as reported in Table 1. The City’s net position increased by $5.3 million for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The governmental activities reported an increase of $3.4 million
and the business-type activities reported an increase of $1.9 million.
Table 1
Statement of Net Position
As of September 30
(in Thousands of Dollars)
Governmental Activities Business-Type Activities Total Primary Government
2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024
Assets
Current & Other $ 47,242 $ 50,310 $ 16,757 $ 16,751 $ 63,999 $ 67,061
Capital Assets 60,047 54,574 36,502 34,975 96,549 89,549
Total Assets 107,289 104,884 53,259 51,726 160,548 156,610
Deferred Outflows of Resources 6,206 11,493 301 1,994 6,507 13,487
Liabilities
Long-Term Liabilities * 36,245 44,413 13,042 15,751 49,287 60,164
Other Liabilities * 4,313 5,857 2,984 3,261 7,297 9,118
Total Liabilities 40,558 50,270 16,026 19,012 56,584 69,282
Deferred Inflows of Resources 10,018 6,557 1,494 545 11,512 7,102
Net Position
Net Investment in Capital Assets 40,721 35,708 23,384 20,555 64,105 56,263
Restricted 14,805 14,946 813 590 15,618 15,536
Unrestricted * 7,393 8,896 11,843 13,018 19,236 21,914
Total Net Position $ 62,919 $ 59,550 $ 36,040 $ 34,163 $ 98,959 $ 93,713
* As restated due to implementation of GASB Statement (GASBS) No. 101, Compensated Absences.
By far, the largest portion of the City’s net position, $64.1 million or 64.8%, reflects its investment in capital
assets (e.g., land, infrastructure, buildings, machinery, and equipment) less any related debt still
outstanding that was used to acquire those assets. The City uses these capital assets to provide services
to citizens; consequently, these assets are not available for future spending. Although the City reports the
investment in its capital assets net of related debt, it should be noted that the resources needed to repay
this debt must be provided from other sources, since capital assets themselves cannot be used to liquidate
these liabilities. An additional portion of the City’s net position of $15.6 million, or 15.8%, represents
resources that are subject to external restrictions on how they may be used. The remaining balance of
$19.2 million is unrestricted and may be used to meet the government’s ongoing obligations to citizens
and creditors.
Reported in Table 2 on the next page are the key elements of the increase in net position for the current
and prior fiscal year.
7
Table 2
Statement of Activities
For Year Ended September 30
Governmental Activities Business-Type Activities Total Primary Government
2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024
Revenues
Program Revenue:
Charges for Services $ 5,440,279 $ 5,099,923 $ 18,971,073 $ 17,804,055 $ 24,411,352 $ 22,903,978
Operating Grants & Contributions 1,239,109 1,089,161 - - 1,239,109 1,089,161
Capital Grants & Contributions 243,432 789,571 1,082,695 3,721,220 1,326,127 4,510,791
General Revenue: - -
Property Taxes 7,693,921 7,750,534 - - 7,693,921 7,750,534
Other Taxes 13,038,481 13,793,955 - - 13,038,481 13,793,955
Tax Increments for Redevelopment 2,887,289 2,842,113 - - 2,887,289 2,842,113
Other Revenue 4,509,270 5,230,022 683,572 1,149,888 5,192,842 6,379,910
Total Revenues 35,051,781 36,595,279 20,737,340 22,675,163 55,789,121 59,270,442
Expenses
Function/Program Activities
General Government 6,893,053 5,612,265 - - 6,893,053 5,612,265
Public Safety 16,698,910 15,594,706 - - 16,698,910 15,594,706
Physical Environment 401,575 425,314 - - 401,575 425,314
Transportation 1,004,089 1,318,838 - - 1,004,089 1,318,838
Economic Environment 1,275,342 1,463,389 - - 1,275,342 1,463,389
Culture & Recreation 6,726,220 6,912,043 - - 6,726,220 6,912,043
Debt Service Interest 668,906 705,158 - - 668,906 705,158
Utilities - - 11,080,697 11,238,837 11,080,697 11,238,837
Sanitation - - 4,745,877 4,580,016 4,745,877 4,580,016
Other - - 1,048,423 1,196,475 1,048,423 1,196,475
Total Expenses 33,668,095 32,031,713 16,874,997 17,015,328 50,543,092 49,047,041
Change in Net Position Before
Transfers 1,383,686 4,563,566 3,862,343 5,659,835 5,246,029 10,223,401
Transfers 1,985,575 1,848,670 (1,985,575) (1,848,670) - -
Change in Net Position 3,369,261 6,412,236 1,876,768 3,811,165 5,246,029 10,223,401
Net Position – Beginning * 59,550,339 53,138,103 34,163,194 30,352,029 93,713,533 83,490,132
Net Position – Ending $ 62,919,600 $ 59,550,339 $ 36,039,962 $ 34,163,194 $ 98,959,562 $ 93,713,533
* As restated due to implementation of GASBS No. 101, Compensated Absences.
Current Year Impacts – Governmental Activities
Governmental activities increased the City’s net position by $3.4 million for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2025. Key elements of this change are as follows:
Total revenues decreased by $1.5 million, or 4.2%, which is primarily attributable to a decrease in
investment earnings as a result of a decrease in market interest rates.
Public safety expenses increased $1.1 million, or 7.1%. This is primarily attributable to an increase
in payroll and related taxes and employee benefit costs.
Total expenses increased by $1.6 million, or 5.1%, which was largely due to inflationary pressures
on payroll and maintenance costs.
8
C hart 1
Program Revenues & Expenses - Governmental Activities (in millions)
$0 $2 $4 $6 $8 $10 $12 $14 $16 $18
General Government
Public Safety
Physical Environment
Transportation
Economic Environment
Culture & Recreation
Debt Service Interest
Revenues Expenses
C hart 2
Interest & Investment Revenues by Source - Governmental Activities
Earnings
$2,167,478 Other Revenue
$622,229 Charges for Services
Other Intergovernmental
$5,440,279
$1,719,563
Franchise Fees Operating Grants &
$2,387,255 Contributions
$1,239,109
Capital Grants &
Contributions
$243,432
Utility Service Taxes
$4,716,511
Ad Valorem Taxes
$7,693,921
Sales Taxes Tax Increments for
$5,934,715 Redevelopment
$2,887,289
Current Year Impacts – Business-Type Activities
Business-type activities increased the City’s net position by $1.9 million for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2025. Key elements of this change are as follows:
Capital grants and contributions decreased by $2.6 million, or 70.9%, which is primary attributable
to expending American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding of $3.7 million on a water meter
replacement project during the prior fiscal year.
Sanitation expenses increased $165,861, or 3.6%, which is primarily attributable to an increase in
in payroll and related taxes and employee benefit costs.
9
Chart 3
Program Revenues and Expenses - Business-Type Activities
$16
$14
$12
Millions
$10
$8
$6
$4
$2
$0
Utilities Sanitation Stormwater
Revenues Expenses
Chart 4
Revenues by Source - Business-Type Activities
Capital Grants &
Contributions
$1,082,695
Interest & Investment
Earnings
$670,706
Other Revenue
Charges for Services $12,866
$18,971,073
10
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CITY’S FUNDS
As noted earlier, the City uses fund accounting to ensure and demonstrate compliance with finance-related
legal requirements.
Governmental Funds
The focus of the City’s governmental funds is to provide information on near-term inflows, outflows, and
balances of available resources. Such information is useful in assessing the City’s financing requirements.
Unrestricted fund balance may serve as a useful measure of a government’s net resources available for
spending at the end of the fiscal year.
As of September 30, 2025, the City’s governmental funds have combined ending fund balances of $39.7
million, a decrease of $4.0 million from the prior year. Approximately 21.6% of this amount, or $8.6 million,
is available for spending at the discretion of City Council. The remainder of fund balance is non-spendable,
restricted, or committed. Details of the fund balance classifications can be found Note 16 to the financial
statements.
The General Fund is the chief operating fund of the City. At the end of the fiscal year, assigned and
unassigned fund balance of the General Fund was $8.6 million, while total fund balance was $27.9 million.
As a measure of the General Fund’s liquidity, it may be useful to compare both assigned and unassigned
fund balance and total fund balance to total expenditures. Total assigned and unassigned fund balances
represent 22.4% of the General Fund’s total expenditures, while total fund balance represents 72.7% of
the General Fund’s total expenditures. During the current fiscal year, the fund balance of the City’s General
Fund decreased by $4.2 million. This decrease is primarily attributable to several ongoing major capital
projects.
The fund balance in the CRA Fund decreased by $442,902. This decrease is primarily attributable to two
ongoing capital projects for the Fort Walton Beach Landing improvements and a museum addition at the
Heritage Park and Cultural Center.
The fund balance in the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund increased by $530,920. This
increase is primarily attributable to earnings from the investment portfolio exceeding cemetery
maintenance expenditures.
Proprietary Funds
The City’s proprietary funds provide the same type of information found in the government-wide financial
statements, but in more detail.
Unrestricted net position of the proprietary funds totaled $11.8 million on September 30, 2025, of which
the Utilities Fund reported $8.0 million, the Sanitation Fund reported $2.7 million, and the Stormwater
Fund reported $1.1 million. The factors concerning the finances of these funds have already been
addressed in the discussion of the City’s business-type activities.
GENERAL FUND BUDGETARY HIGHLIGHTS
A schedule showing the original budget, the final budget, the actual results, and the variance from the final
budget to the actual results is included for the General Fund on page 78 of the financial statements. The
difference between the original budget and the final budget for expenditures was an increase of $1.5
million. Significant information related to this difference is summarized below.
Decrease of $1.1 million for capital outlay related to not being awarded anticipated grant funding.
Increase of $924,709 for capital outlay to purchase 15 vehicles for the City’s Police Department and
two vehicles for the Parks and Recreation Department.
11
Increase of $500,000 for capital outlay to building a performance stage at the Fort Walton Beach
Landing Park.
Increase of $386,200 for capital outlay to reconfigure fields and install synthetic turf at the Preston
Hood Athletic Complex.
Increase of $300,000 for public safety expenditures to engage a contractor to perform a
comprehensive traffic safety action plan that is partially funded by a federal grant award.
Actual results, when compared to the final budget, show a variance of $3.4 million for expenditures. This
variance is primarily due to amending the budget for expenditures planned but not yet commenced or
completed.
CAPITAL ASSET AND DEBT ADMINISTRATION
Capital Assets
The City’s investment in capital assets for its governmental and business-type activities, as of September
30, 2025, was $96.5 million (net of accumulated depreciation). This represents a net increase of $7.0
million, or 7.8%. Highlights are summarized as follows:
Capital assets outdated, unserviceable, and no longer used are systematically disposed of on an
annual basis.
The City expended $2.3 million for replacement vehicles for the City’s fleet.
Fort Walton Beach Landing boardwalk improvements expenditures were $1.8 million.
The City purchased artificial turf and soccer goals at Oakland Park for a total cost of $1.1 million.
The Heritage Park and Cultural Center museum addition expenditures were $594,934.
The City spent $613,710 to re-grass The Pines Course at Fort Walton Beach Golf Club.
Table 3
Total Capital Assets, Net of Accumulated Depreciation
As of September 30
Governmental Activities Business-Type Activities Total Primary Government
2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024
Land $ 8,826,730 $ 8,826,730 $ 709,678 $ 709,678 $ 9,536,408 $ 9,536,408
Buildings 19,375,732 20,342,371 35,530 65,247 19,411,262 20,407,618
Improvements Other Than Buildings 13,522,680 12,293,660 32,430,183 26,466,498 45,952,863 38,760,158
Machinery & Equipment 6,355,377 4,955,772 2,854,666 2,750,377 9,210,043 7,706,149
Easements - - 39,742 39,742 39,742 39,742
Right-of-Use Assets 558,895 407,943 33,304 97,676 592,199 505,619
Subscription Assets 1,803,404 1,385,212 200,930 - 2,004,334 1,385,212
Construction in Progress 9,604,571 6,362,741 197,505 4,845,796 9,802,076 11,208,537
$ 60,047,389 $ 54,574,429 $ 36,501,538 $ 34,975,014 $ 96,548,927 $ 89,549,443
Additional information on the capital assets of the City can be found in Note 6 of this report on pages 44-
47.
Long-Term Debt
As shown in the table on the next page, as of September 30, 2025, the City had total outstanding long-
term debt of $31.7 million, which represents a decrease of $1.9 million, or 5.6% from the prior fiscal year.
The City’s debt consists of notes and bonds secured solely by specified revenue sources (i.e., revenue
notes and bonds); a loan from a State Revolving Fund; and various financing contracts, leases, and
subscription liabilities. The City has no general obligation or special assessment debt. The State of Florida
does not place a legal limit of debt on municipalities. For general obligation debts greater than one year,
the City is required to conduct a voter referendum.
12
Table 4
Outstanding Debt
As of September 30
Governmental Activities Business-Type Activities Total Primary Government
2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024
Revenue Notes & Bonds $ 15,905,768 $ 17,457,771 $ 4,673,000 $ 5,185,000 $ 20,578,768 $ 22,642,771
State Revolving Fund Loan - - 8,164,380 8,941,531 8,164,380 8,941,531
Financing Contracts 380,874 222,785 - - 380,874 222,785
Lease Obligations 594,073 421,986 35,817 102,468 629,890 524,454
Subscription Liabilities 1,804,986 1,298,973 179,838 - 1,984,824 1,298,973
$ 18,685,701 $ 19,401,515 $ 13,053,035 $ 14,228,999 $ 31,738,736 $ 33,630,514
Additional information on the City’s long-term debt can be found in Notes 13 and 14 of this report on pages
68-74.
ECONOMIC FACTORS AND NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET AND RATES
Economic indicators and factors that are useful for evaluating the framework within which the City operates
are discussed below.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 2.7% higher than a year ago for the Southern Region. This indicator
is a widely used gauge of inflation and translates into a higher cost of providing services to residents.
The local unemployment rate was 4.1%, which represents an approximate 1.0% increase from
September 2024. The State of Florida’s unemployment rate was 3.9%, which represents an
approximate 0.6% increase from September 2024. The unemployment rate will impact the City’s fee
and usage-based revenues and shared portions of the State of Florida’s usage-based taxes.
The Florida Department of Revenue’s Office of Tax Research has updated its estimates of tax
distributions the City is expected to receive for the upcoming fiscal year. The table below summarizes
the fiscal year 2026 revenue estimates compared to the actual revenues reported for the current fiscal
year.
FY2026 FY2025
Revenue Source Estimate Actual Variance ($) Variance (%)
Communications Service Taxes $ 1,256,258 $ 1,227,012 $ 29,246 2.4%
Half-Cent Sales Taxes 2,385,072 2,440,791 (55,719) -2.3%
Local Option Fuel Taxes 949,160 933,849 15,311 1.6%
Municipal Revenue Sharing Program 1,163,642 1,182,145 (18,503) -1.6%
The military has a significant presence in our community with Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and
Duke Field. Combined, these three installations employ over 72,000 military and civilian personnel.
The military and defense-related industries have a $22 billion annual impact on Northwest Florida’s
economy, according to the Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis.
These financial policies, as well as other indicators, were considered when adopting the City’s budget for
fiscal year 2026. The City’s budget for fiscal year 2026 totals $75.9 million, which is $2.7 million more than
the fiscal year 2025 adopted budget. The 2026 budget allocates $41.4 million to the General Fund, a 2.8%
increase as compared to the fiscal year 2025 budget; $27.5 million to the enterprise funds; and $7.0 million
to other funds. For the fiscal year 2026 budget, the City Council adopted the millage rate of 4.3282 mills,
which is the same rate as the previous fiscal year.
Personnel expenses account for approximately 46.3% of the City’s budget. The City’s fiscal year 2026
budget remains relatively stable in this category, at 320.19 full-time equivalent (FTE’s) positions, an
increase of only 3.3 FTE’s from the prior year.
13
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
This financial report is designed to provide citizens, taxpayers, customers, and creditors with a general
overview of the City of Fort Walton Beach’s finances and to demonstrate the City’s accountability for the
money it receives. Questions concerning any of the information provided in this report, or requests for
additional information, should be addressed to the City Manager, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway S.W., City of
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 32548. This document and other financial information are available on the
City’s website at www.fwb.org. Inquiries may also be sent via email to the Finance Department at
finance@fwb.org.
14
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
STATEMENT OF NET POSITION
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Primary Government
Governmental Business-Type
Activities Activities Total
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,646,205 $ 719,992 $ 5,366,197
Investments 26,956,232 11,440,724 38,396,956
Receivables, net 460,496 1,278,177 1,738,673
Due from other governments 1,937,232 1,056,144 2,993,376
Inventory, at cost 556,226 19,858 576,084
Prepaid items - 4,534 4,534
Restricted assets
Cash and cash equivalents 7,509,746 1,070,596 8,580,342
Net pension asset 1,706,567 1,163,735 2,870,302
Other assets
Other receivables 3,468,728 3,732 3,472,460
Capital assets
Non-depreciable/amortizable 18,431,301 946,925 19,378,226
Depreciable/amortizable, net 41,616,088 35,554,613 77,170,701
TOTAL ASSETS 107,288,821 53,259,030 160,547,851
DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES 6,206,037 301,068 6,507,105
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 1,221,771 694,102 1,915,873
Accrued liabilities 1,203,433 214,081 1,417,514
Due to other governments 20,995 13,440 34,435
Unearned revenues 37,891 52,974 90,865
Accrued interest 174,483 53,503 227,986
Payable from restricted assets
Customer deposits - 440,357 440,357
Non-current liabilities
Due within one year
Compensated absences 569,429 123,158 692,587
Lease obligations payable 156,282 35,010 191,292
Subscription liabilities 808,970 38,211 847,181
Financing contracts payable 119,854 - 119,854
Revenue bonds and notes payable 1,597,604 527,000 2,124,604
State revolving fund loans payable - 791,988 791,988
Due in more than one year
Compensated absences 1,708,288 369,472 2,077,760
Lease obligations payable 437,791 807 438,598
Subscription liabilities 996,016 141,627 1,137,643
Financing contracts payable 261,020 - 261,020
Revenue bonds and notes payable 14,308,164 4,146,000 18,454,164
State revolving fund loans payable - 7,372,392 7,372,392
Total OPEB liability 3,774,911 1,012,016 4,786,927
Net pension liability 13,160,824 - 13,160,824
TOTAL LIABILITIES 40,557,726 16,026,138 56,583,864
DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES 10,017,532 1,493,998 11,511,530
NET POSITION
Net investment in capital assets 40,721,488 23,383,823 64,105,311
Restricted
Debt service - 157,228 157,228
System improvements - 473,011 473,011
Pension benefits 268,637 183,187 451,824
Redevelopment projects 5,171,206 - 5,171,206
Public safety 1,855,189 - 1,855,189
Other purposes 7,509,746 - 7,509,746
Unrestricted 7,393,334 11,842,713 19,236,047
TOTAL NET POSITION $ 62,919,600 $ 36,039,962 $ 98,959,562
See notes to the financial statements.
15
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Net (Expense) Revenue and Changes in Net Position
Program Revenues Primary Government
Charges for Operating Grants Capital Grants and Governmental Business-Type
Function/program activities Expenses Services and Contributions Contributions Activities Activities Total
Governmental activities
General government $ 6,893,053 $ 699,179 $ 12,390 $ - $ (6,181,484) $ - $ (6,181,484)
Public safety 16,698,910 900,575 860,931 243,432 (14,693,972) - (14,693,972)
Physical environment 401,575 453,875 - - 52,300 - 52,300
Transportation 1,004,089 202,017 21,200 - (780,872) - (780,872)
Economic environment 1,275,342 51,201 121,027 - (1,103,114) - (1,103,114)
Culture and recreation 6,726,220 3,133,432 223,561 - (3,369,227) - (3,369,227)
Debt service interest 668,906 - - - (668,906) - (668,906)
Total governmental
activities 33,668,095 5,440,279 1,239,109 243,432 (26,745,275) - (26,745,275)
Business-type activities
Utilities 11,080,697 12,484,176 - 855,587 - 2,259,066 2,259,066
Sanitation 4,745,877 5,433,078 - - - 687,201 687,201
Stormwater 1,048,423 1,053,819 - 227,108 - 232,504 232,504
Total business-type
activities 16,874,997 18,971,073 - 1,082,695 - 3,178,771 3,178,771
Total primary government $ 50,543,092 $ 24,411,352 $ 1,239,109 $ 1,326,127 (26,745,275) 3,178,771 (23,566,504)
General revenues
Taxes
Property taxes 7,693,921 - 7,693,921
Sales taxes 5,934,715 - 5,934,715
Utility service taxes 4,716,511 - 4,716,511
Tax increments for redevelopment districts 2,887,289 - 2,887,289
Franchise fees 2,387,255 - 2,387,255
Intergovernmental, unrestricted 1,719,563 - 1,719,563
Gain on sale of assets 586,414 10,479 596,893
Miscellaneous 35,815 2,387 38,202
Interest and investment earnings 2,167,478 670,706 2,838,184
Transfers 1,985,575 (1,985,575) -
Total general revenues and transfers 30,114,536 (1,302,003) 28,812,533
CHANGE IN NET POSITION 3,369,261 1,876,768 5,246,029
NET POSITION AT BEGINNING OF YEAR - AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED 60,770,051 34,399,434 95,169,485
RESTATEMENT - CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE (1,219,712) (236,240) (1,455,952)
NET POSITION AT END OF YEAR $ 62,919,600 $ 36,039,962 $ 98,959,562
See notes to the financial statements.
16
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
BALANCE SHEET
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Community Beal Memorial Other Total
Redevelopment Cemetery Governmental Governmental
General Agency Perpetual Care Funds Funds
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,994,811 $ 452,118 $ 201,380 $ 1,997,896 $ 4,646,205
Investments 18,981,138 2,976,659 4,998,435 - 26,956,232
Receivables 3,928,583 641 - - 3,929,224
Due from other funds 14,899 - - - 14,899
Due from other governments 104,957 1,824,380 - 7,895 1,937,232
Inventory, at cost 556,226 - - - 556,226
Restricted assets
Investments 7,509,746 - - - 7,509,746
TOTAL ASSETS $ 33,090,360 $ 5,253,798 $ 5,199,815 $ 2,005,791 $ 45,549,764
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 781,172 $ 432,051 $ 1,892 $ 6,656 $ 1,221,771
Accrued liabilities 1,033,221 32,383 - 137,829 1,203,433
Due to other funds - - - 14,899 14,899
Due to other governments 20,995 - - - 20,995
Unearned revenues 37,891 - - - 37,891
Total liabilities 1,873,279 464,434 1,892 159,384 2,498,989
DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES 3,357,083 - - - 3,357,083
FUND BALANCE
Nonspendable 556,226 - - - 556,226
Restricted 7,509,746 4,789,364 - 1,855,189 14,154,299
Committed 11,214,071 - 5,197,923 - 16,411,994
Assigned 6,030,470 - - - 6,030,470
Unassigned 2,549,485 - - (8,782) 2,540,703
Total fund balance 27,859,998 4,789,364 5,197,923 1,846,407 39,693,692
TOTAL LIABILITIES, DEFERRED
INFLOWS OF RESOURCES, AND
FUND BALANCE $ 33,090,360 $ 5,253,798 $ 5,199,815 $ 2,005,791 $ 45,549,764
See notes to the financial statements.
17
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
RECONCILIATION OF THE BALANCE SHEET TO THE STATEMENT OF NET POSITION
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Fund balance, total governmental funds (page 17) $ 39,693,692
Amounts reported for governmental activities in the statement of net
position are different because:
Capital assets used in governmental activities are not financial
resources and therefore are not reported in the funds.
Governmental non-depreciable/amortizable assets $ 18,431,301
Governmental depreciable/amortizable assets 103,031,795
Less accumulated depreciation/amortization (61,415,707)
60,047,389
Other assets used in governmental activities are not current
financial resources and therefore are not reported in the funds.
Net pension asset 1,706,567
Unavailable revenues in governmental funds is susceptible to full
accrual on the entity-wide statements.
Special assessments 35,714
Receivable related to sale of capital assets 313,515
349,229
Deferred inflows of resources and deferred outflows of
resources are not available/receivable or due/payable,
respectively, in the current period and therefore are not
reported in the governmental funds.
Deferred outflows of resources related to pension plans 5,591,045
Deferred outflows of resources related to OPEB plan 614,992
Deferred inflows of resources related to pension plans (5,094,324)
Deferred inflows of resources related to OPEB plan (1,915,354)
(803,641)
Long-term liabilities are not due and payable in the current period
and therefore are not reported in the governmental funds.
Notes payable (15,905,768)
Accrued interest (174,483)
Lease obligations payable (594,073)
Subscription liabilities (1,804,986)
Financing contracts payable (380,874)
Compensated absences (2,277,717)
Total OPEB liability (3,774,911)
Net pension liability (13,160,824)
(38,073,636)
Net position of governmental activities (page 15) $ 62,919,600
See notes to the financial statements.
18
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Community Beal Memorial Other Total
Redevelopment Cemetery Governmental Governmental
General Agency Perpetual Care Funds Funds
REVENUES
Taxes $ 14,178,604 $ 1,530,199 $ - $ - $ 15,708,803
Permits and fees 2,440,501 - - 631,908 3,072,409
Intergovernmental 7,287,552 1,357,090 - 122,805 8,767,447
Charges for services 3,784,813 - - - 3,784,813
Fines 215,982 - - 21,184 237,166
Investment income 955,643 47,478 506,709 - 1,509,830
Miscellaneous 1,339,941 152,116 5,767 57,617 1,555,441
Total revenues 30,203,036 3,086,883 512,476 833,514 34,635,909
EXPENDITURES
Current
General government 6,114,022 - - - 6,114,022
Public safety 15,243,357 424,586 - 587,481 16,255,424
Physical environment 309,707 - 11,804 - 321,511
Transportation 517,572 - - - 517,572
Economic environment 20,000 933,083 - 121,027 1,074,110
Culture and recreation 5,282,268 - - - 5,282,268
Capital outlay 7,714,822 2,411,307 - - 10,126,129
Debt service
Principal 2,457,508 3,684 - - 2,461,192
Interest 666,292 10,376 - - 676,668
Total expenditures 38,325,548 3,783,036 11,804 708,508 42,828,896
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF REVENUES
OVER (UNDER) EXPENDITURES (8,122,512) (696,153) 500,672 125,006 (8,192,987)
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES (USES)
Sale of general capital assets 491,244 - - - 491,244
Issuance of leases and financing contracts 308,843 253,251 - - 562,094
Issuance of subscription liabilities 1,183,284 - - - 1,183,284
Transfers in 1,985,575 - 30,248 - 2,015,823
Transfers out (30,248) - - - (30,248)
Total other financing sources (uses) 3,938,698 253,251 30,248 - 4,222,197
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE (4,183,814) (442,902) 530,920 125,006 (3,970,790)
FUND BALANCE - AS
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED 32,043,812 5,232,266 - 6,388,404 43,664,482
ADJUSTMENT - CHANGE FROM
NONMAJOR TO MAJOR FUND - - 4,667,003 (4,667,003) -
FUND BALANCE - BEGINNING OF YEAR 32,043,812 5,232,266 4,667,003 1,721,401 43,664,482
FUND BALANCE AT END OF YEAR $ 27,859,998 $ 4,789,364 $ 5,197,923 $ 1,846,407 $ 39,693,692
See notes to the financial statements.
19
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
RECONCILIATION OF THE STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN
FUND BALANCE TO THE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Net change in fund balance – governmental funds (page 19) $ (3,970,790)
Amounts reported for governmental activities in the statement of activities are different
because:
Governmental funds do not report capital assets on the balance sheet; however,
they are reported in the government-wide financial statements. Governmental funds
report capital outlays as expenditures; however, in the statement of activities, the
cost of those assets is depreciated/amortized over the estimated useful lives of the
assets.
Expenditures for capital assets $ 10,126,129
Less current year depreciation/amortization (4,662,117)
5,464,012
Governmental funds do not report capital assets on the balance sheet; however,
they are reported in the government-wide financial statements. Accordingly,
proceeds received for disposals of capital assets are shown as income in the
governmental financial statements and a gain or loss is reported in the statement of
activities. In addition, capital asset reassignments are reported as transfers on the
statement of activities.
Disposals and transfers of capital assets (1,975,892)
Accumulated depreciation/amortization – disposals and transfers 1,880,460
Other capital asset adjustments 104,380
8,948
Special assessment revenue in the governmental funds is recognized when due;
however, the revenue was recognized in the statement of activities when it was
earned (when levied).
Payments received from special assessments (468)
Special assessment for interest and penalties 2,320
Principal forgiven on notes receivable related to sale of capital assets (4,048)
Payments received on receivable related to sale of capital assets (82,104)
(84,300)
The issuance of long-term debt provides current financial resources to governmental
funds, while the repayment of the principal of long-term debt consumes the current
financial resources of governmental funds. Neither transaction, however, has any
effect on net position. Also, governmental funds report the effect of issuance costs,
premiums, discounts and similar items when debt is first issued, whereas these
amounts are deferred and amortized in the statement of activities. In addition, long-
term debt reassignments are reported as transfers on the statement of activities.
Proceeds from issuance of leases and subscription liabilities (1,745,378)
Principal payments on long-term liabilities 2,461,192
Change in accrued interest on long-term debt 7,762
723,576
Some expenses reported in the statement of activities do not require the use of
current financial resources and therefore are not reported as expenditures in
governmental funds:
Change in net pension asset / liability and related deferred outflows and
deferred inflows of resources 1,153,772
Change in other post-employment benefits liability and related deferred
outflows and deferred inflows of resources 57,225
Change in long-term compensated absences 16,818
1,227,815
Change in net position of governmental activities (page 16) $ 3,369,261
See notes to the financial statements.
20
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PROPRIETARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF NET POSITION
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Stormwater
Utilities Fund Sanitation Fund Fund Total
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 241,662 $ 393,023 $ 85,307 $ 719,992
Restricted assets – cash and
cash equivalents 1,065,116 5,480 - 1,070,596
Investments 7,661,817 2,870,513 908,394 11,440,724
Receivables, net 901,750 312,366 64,061 1,278,177
Due from other governments 768,644 - 287,500 1,056,144
Inventory – at cost 19,858 - - 19,858
Prepaid items - - 4,534 4,534
Total current assets 10,658,847 3,581,382 1,349,796 15,590,025
Other assets
Other receivables 3,732 - - 3,732
Net pension asset - restricted 620,990 474,604 68,141 1,163,735
Total other assets 624,722 474,604 68,141 1,167,467
Capital assets, net
Non-depreciable/amortizable 918,393 - 28,532 946,925
Depreciable/amortizable, net 30,789,783 1,655,954 3,108,876 35,554,613
Total capital assets 31,708,176 1,655,954 3,137,408 36,501,538
Total non-current assets 32,332,898 2,130,558 3,205,549 37,669,005
TOTAL ASSETS 42,991,745 5,711,940 4,555,345 53,259,030
DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES 178,451 94,740 27,877 301,068
See notes to the financial statements.
21
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PROPRIETARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF NET POSITION – CONTINUED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Stormwater
Utilities Fund Sanitation Fund Fund Total
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $ 429,018 $ 179,070 $ 86,014 $ 694,102
Accrued liabilities
Compensated absences 69,813 42,411 10,934 123,158
Wages 128,543 64,730 20,808 214,081
Interest 53,503 - - 53,503
Due to other governments - 13,440 - 13,440
Lease obligations payable 16,806 - 18,204 35,010
Subscription liabilities 38,211 - - 38,211
Revenue note payable 527,000 - - 527,000
State revolving loan payable 791,988 - - 791,988
Unearned revenues 52,974 - - 52,974
Payable from restricted assets
Customer deposits 434,877 5,480 - 440,357
Total current liabilities 2,542,733 305,131 135,960 2,983,824
Non-current liabilities
Accrued liabilities
Compensated absences 209,439 127,231 32,802 369,472
Lease obligations payable 807 - - 807
Subscription liabilities 141,627 - - 141,627
Revenue note payable 4,146,000 - - 4,146,000
State revolving loan payable 7,372,392 - - 7,372,392
Other post-employment benefits 524,830 349,541 137,645 1,012,016
Total non-current liabilities 12,395,095 476,772 170,447 13,042,314
TOTAL LIABILITIES 14,937,828 781,903 306,407 16,026,138
DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES 789,431 577,196 127,371 1,493,998
NET POSITION
Net investment in capital assets 18,675,486 1,655,954 3,052,383 23,383,823
Restricted
Debt service 157,228 - - 157,228
System improvements 473,011 - - 473,011
Pensions 97,752 74,709 10,726 183,187
Unrestricted 8,039,460 2,716,918 1,086,335 11,842,713
TOTAL NET POSITION $ 27,442,937 $ 4,447,581 $ 4,149,444 $ 36,039,962
See notes to the financial statements.
22
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PROPRIETARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENSES, AND CHANGES IN NET POSITION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Sanitation Stormwater
Utilities Fund Fund Fund Total
OPERATING REVENUES
Charges for services $ 12,461,490 $ 5,433,078 $ 1,053,819 $ 18,948,387
OPERATING EXPENSES
Personal services 2,511,744 1,375,261 384,257 4,271,262
Operating 6,261,452 3,100,620 433,407 9,795,479
Depreciation/amortization expense 1,969,232 269,996 229,066 2,468,294
Total operating expenses 10,742,428 4,745,877 1,046,730 16,535,035
OPERATING INCOME 1,719,062 687,201 7,089 2,413,352
NON-OPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES)
Rental income 22,686 - - 22,686
Interest expense (313,352) - (1,693) (315,045)
Amortization (5,613) - - (5,613)
Gain (loss) on disposal of capital assets (18,906) 10,479 - (8,427)
Investment earnings 100,873 25,559 5,825 132,257
Interest income 370,486 126,714 41,249 538,449
Grants in aid (398) - - (398)
Miscellaneous (68) 2,455 - 2,387
Total non-operating revenues (expenses) 155,708 165,207 45,381 366,296
INCOME BEFORE CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS AND TRANSFERS 1,874,770 852,408 52,470 2,779,648
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND TRANSFERS
Capital grants and contributions 770,493 - 227,108 997,601
Impact fees 85,094 - - 85,094
Transfers out (1,338,201) (427,937) (219,437) (1,985,575)
Total capital contributions and transfers (482,614) (427,937) 7,671 (902,880)
CHANGE IN NET POSITION 1,392,156 424,471 60,141 1,876,768
NET POSITION AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED 26,154,609 4,139,061 4,105,764 34,399,434
Restatement - Change in Accounting Principle (103,828) (115,951) (16,461) (236,240)
Net Position at Beginning of Year 26,050,781 4,023,110 4,089,303 34,163,194
NET POSITION AT END OF YEAR $ 27,442,937 $ 4,447,581 $ 4,149,444 $ 36,039,962
See notes to the financial statements.
23
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PROPRIETARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Sanitation Stormwater
Utilities Fund Fund Fund Total
CASH FLOWS FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Receipts from customers and users $ 12,587,990 $ 5,454,822 $ 1,060,176 $ 19,102,988
Payments to vendors and suppliers (6,739,205) (3,088,097) (357,134) (10,184,436)
Payments to employees (2,476,507) (1,422,247) (376,584) (4,275,338)
Miscellaneous income 22,618 2,455 - 25,073
Net cash provided by operating activities 3,394,896 946,933 326,458 4,668,287
CASH FLOWS FROM NON-CAPITAL
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Interfund activity 2,388,193 - - 2,388,193
Grants in aid (398) - - (398)
Transfers out (1,338,201) (427,937) (219,437) (1,985,575)
Net cash provided by (used in) non-capital
financing activities 1,049,594 (427,937) (219,437) 402,220
CASH FLOWS FROM CAPITAL AND
RELATED FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Impact fee receipts 85,094 - - 85,094
Acquisitions of capital assets (2,488,577) (614,332) (673,222) (3,776,131)
Proceeds from sale of capital assets 6,835 10,479 - 17,314
Proceeds from capital contributions 1,849 - - 1,849
Principal paid on long-term debt (1,377,070) - (43,322) (1,420,392)
Interest paid on long-term debt (318,936) - (1,693) (320,629)
Net cash used in capital and related
financing activities (4,090,805) (603,853) (718,237) (5,412,895)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
ACTIVITIES
Purchases of investments (369,344) (113,123) (24,375) (506,842)
Interest and dividends 370,486 126,714 41,249 538,449
Net cash provided by investing activities 1,142 13,591 16,874 31,607
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS 354,827 (71,266) (594,342) (310,781)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
BEGINNING OF YEAR 951,951 469,769 679,649 2,101,369
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
END OF YEAR $ 1,306,778 $ 398,503 $ 85,307 $ 1,790,588
See notes to the financial statements.
24
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PROPRIETARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS – CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Sanitation Stormwater
Utilities Fund Fund Fund Total
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
END OF YEAR CONSIST OF
Cash and cash equivalents $ 241,662 $ 393,023 $ 85,307 $ 719,992
Retricted cash and cash equivalents 1,065,116 5,480 - 1,070,596
Total cash and cash equivalents $ 1,306,778 $ 398,503 $ 85,307 $ 1,790,588
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO
NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Operating income $ 1,719,062 $ 687,201 $ 7,089 $ 2,413,352
Adjustments to reconcile operating income to
net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation 1,969,232 269,996 229,066 2,468,294
Bad debt 70,824 27,338 5,122 103,284
Other income 22,618 2,455 - 25,073
Decrease (increase) in assets:
Accounts receivable (6,903) (5,594) 1,235 (11,262)
Inventory 572 - - 572
Other receivables 48 - - 48
Net pension asset (1,412,735) (1,079,711) (155,019) (2,647,465)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Accounts payable (478,325) 11,082 76,273 (390,970)
Compensated absences payable 34,652 (22,784) 8,872 20,740
Accrued wages 21,019 (9,367) 2,257 13,909
Due to other governments - 1,441 - 1,441
Customer deposits 73,693 - - 73,693
Unearned revenue (11,162) - - (11,162)
Total OPEB liability (14,541) (9,684) (3,814) (28,039)
Net change in deferred outflows/inflows - pension 1,400,257 1,070,175 153,650 2,624,082
Net change in deferred outflows/inflows - OPEB 6,585 4,385 1,727 12,697
Net cash flows from operating activities $ 3,394,896 $ 946,933 $ 326,458 $ 4,668,287
SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING
AND FINANCING ACTIVITES
Assets acquired through SBITA's $ 244,428 $ - $ - $ 244,428
Gain (loss) on disposal of capital assets $ (18,906) $ 10,479 $ - $ (8,427)
Change in fair value of investments $ 100,873 $ 25,559 $ 5,825 $ 132,257
Capital grants receivable $ 768,644 $ - $ 287,500 $ 1,056,144
Accrued capital-related payables $ 41,360 $ - $ 66,821 $ 108,181
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF
NONCASH TRANSACTIONS
Amortization of deferred loss on refunding $ 5,613 $ - $ - $ 5,613
See notes to the financial statements.
25
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
FIDUCIARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF FIDUCIARY NET POSITION
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Pension Trust
Funds
ASSETS
Investments, at fair value
U.S. Government and Agency obligations $ 10,486,442
Corporate obligations 647,438
Corporate equity 2,431,367
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds 95,902,276
Infrastructure investment funds 7,518,553
Real estate investment funds 8,871,543
Total investments 125,857,619
Accounts receivable 94,958
TOTAL ASSETS 125,960,365
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 360,594
NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR PENSIONS $ 125,599,771
See notes to the financial statements.
26
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
FIDUCIARY FUNDS
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FIDUCIARY NET POSITION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Pension Trust
Funds
ADDITIONS
Contributions
Employer $ 3,377,909
Plan members 501,464
State of Florida 663,427
Total contributions 4,542,800
Investment income 13,649,550
Less investment expense (210,679)
Net investment income 13,438,871
TOTAL ADDITIONS 17,984,833
DEDUCTIONS
Benefits and refunds paid
Retirement payments 7,276,294
Disability payments 196,351
Refunds 164,400
Total benefits and refunds paid 7,637,045
Administrative expenses
Legal 34,631
Contractual services 275,478
Other 106,199
Total administrative expenses 416,308
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS 8,053,353
CHANGE IN FIDUCIARY NET POSITION 9,931,480
NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR PENSIONS
Beginning of year 115,668,291
End of year $ 125,599,771
See notes to the financial statements.
27
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY
Description of the City
The City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, (the City) was originally chartered as a municipality under laws of
the State of Florida Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1937. The City Manager – Council form of
government was established in 1953. As authorized by its charter, the City provides the following services:
public safety (police, fire, and inspection), highways and streets, water and sewer, sanitation, stormwater,
culture and recreation, public improvements, planning and zoning, and general administrative services.
The financial statements of the City have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), as applicable to governmental units and
the Uniform Accounting System mandated by Chapter 218.33, Florida Statutes. The Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the standard–setting body for governmental accounting and
financial reporting.
The following is a summary of the more significant accounting policies of the City:
The Reporting Entity
A seven-member City Council and a Mayor govern the City, each elected at-large for four-year terms. The
Council has no powers other than those expressly vested in it by State Statute and the City Charter, and
their governmental powers cannot be delegated.
As required by U.S. GAAP, these financial statements present the City of Fort Walton Beach (the primary
government) and its blended component unit. In evaluating the City as a reporting entity, management
has considered all potential component units for which the City may or may not be financially accountable
and, as such, be included within the City's financial statements. Management utilized criteria set forth in
the GASB literature for determining financial accountability of potential component units in evaluating all
potential component units. In accordance with GASB guidance, the City (primary government) is financially
accountable if it appoints a voting majority of the potential component unit's governing board and 1) it is
able to impose its will on the organization or 2) there is a potential for the organization to provide specific
financial benefit to or impose specific financial burden on the City. In addition, component units can be
other organizations for which the nature and significance of their relationship with the primary government
are such that exclusion would cause the reporting entity's financial statements to be misleading or
incomplete.
As of September 30, 2025, the City had one component unit, which has been presented in the financial
statements of the primary government using the blended presentation method and is presented as a
governmental fund type with a fiscal year end of September 30. The Fort Walton Beach Community
Redevelopment Agency (the CRA) was formed in 1977 under the provisions of Chapter 163, Florida
Statutes, to prepare a community redevelopment plan for a designated geographic area within the City of
Fort Walton Beach, Florida. All the City's council members serve as the CRA’s Board of Directors.
Therefore, the CRA’s governing body is the same as the governing body of the City. The CRA functions
as a department of the City. City management has operational and fiscal responsibility for the CRA’s
activities. The CRA has a separate standalone audit report that can be obtained by contacting the Growth
Management Department, City Hall Annex, 105 Miracle Strip Parkway S.W., Fort Walton Beach, Florida
32548 or online at www.fwb.org.
The Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority (the Authority) is considered a related organization to the City
rather than a component unit. The City Council appoints the board members of the Authority. However,
the Authority's board operates independently of the City Council and does not create a financial burden or
benefit to the City.
28
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Government-Wide and Fund Financial Statements
The basic financial statements include both government-wide (based on the City as a whole) and fund
financial statements. The government-wide financial statements (i.e., the statement of net position and the
statement of activities) report information on all of the non-fiduciary activities of the primary government
and its component unit. For the most part, the effects of interfund activity have been removed from these
statements. Governmental activities, which normally are supported by taxes and intergovernmental
revenues, are reported separately from business-type activities, which rely, to a significant extent, on fees
and charges for support.
The statement of activities demonstrates the degree to which the direct expenses of a given function or
segment is offset by program revenues. Direct expenses are those that are clearly identifiable with a
specific function or segment. Program revenues include 1) charges to customers or applicants who
purchase, use, or directly benefit from goods, services, or privileges provided by a given function or
segment and 2) grants and contributions that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital
requirements of a particular function or segment. Taxes and other items not properly included among
program revenues are reported instead as general revenues.
Separate fund financial statements are provided for the governmental and proprietary funds. Major
individual governmental funds and major enterprise funds are reported as separate columns in the fund
financial statements. Separate fund financial statements for the fiduciary funds are disclosed within Note
8 of these financial statements.
Measurement Focus and Basis of Accounting
The government-wide financial statements are reported using the economic resources measurement
focus and the accrual basis of accounting, as are the proprietary fund and fiduciary fund financial
statements. Revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded when a liability is incurred,
regardless of the timing of related cash flows. Pension plans recognize revenue when contributions are
due as there is a statutory requirement to make the contribution. Property taxes are recorded as revenues
in the year for which they are levied. Grants and similar items are recognized as revenue as soon as all
eligibility requirements imposed by the provider have been met.
Governmental fund financial statements are reported using the current financial resources measurement
focus and the modified accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recognized as soon as they are both
measurable and available. Revenues are considered to be available when they are collectible within the
current period or soon enough thereafter to pay liabilities of the current period. For this purpose, the City
considers revenues to be available if they are collected within six months of the end of the current fiscal
period, except for property taxes, for which the period is 60 days. Expenditures generally are recorded
when a liability is incurred, as under accrual accounting. However, debt service expenditures, as well as
expenditures related to compensated absences and claims and judgments, are recorded only when
payment is due.
Franchise fees, licenses, and interest associated with the current fiscal period are all considered to be
susceptible to accrual and so have been recognized as revenues of the current fiscal period. Only the
portion of special assessments and other receivables within the current fiscal period are considered to be
susceptible to accrual as revenue of the current period. Sales taxes, gasoline taxes, and other
intergovernmental revenues collected and held by the state at year-end on behalf of the City, are also
recognized as revenue. All other revenue items are considered to be measurable and available only when
cash is received by the government.
29
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The Okaloosa County Tax Collector bills and collects property taxes for the City in accordance with the
laws of the State of Florida. Property taxes attach as an enforceable lien on property as of the date of
assessment and remain in effect until discharge by payment. Taxes are payable when levied (on
November 1st, or as soon thereafter as the assessment roll becomes available to the Tax Collector).
The following is the current property tax calendar:
Lien Date January 1st
Levy Date November 1st
Due Date November 1st
Delinquent Date April 1st
Discounts of 1% for each month taxes are paid prior to March 1 st are granted.
Revenue recognition criteria for property taxes requires that property taxes expected to be collected within
60 days of the current period be accrued. No accrual has been made for 2025 ad valorem taxes because
property taxes are not legally due until subsequent to the end of the fiscal year. Current year taxes, which
are uncollected as of the end of the fiscal year, are generally immaterial in amount and highly susceptible
to uncollectibility and, therefore, are not recorded as a receivable on the balance sheet date.
Basis of Presentation
The financial transactions of the City are recorded in individual funds. Each fund is a separate accounting
entity with a self-balancing set of accounts recording cash and other financial resources, together with all
related liabilities and residual equities or balances, and changes therein, which are segregated for the
purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with special
regulations, restrictions or limitations. Generally, the effect of interfund activity has been eliminated from
the government-wide financial statements. Exceptions to this general rule are other charges between the
government's utility function and various other functions of the government. Elimination of these charges
would distort the direct costs and program revenues reported for the various functions concerned.
Amounts reported as program revenues include 1) charges to customers or applicants for goods, services,
or privileges provided, 2) operating grants and contributions, and 3) capital grants and contributions,
including special assessments. Internally dedicated resources are reported as general revenues rather
than as program revenues. Likewise, general revenues include all taxes. Any portion of franchise fees that
is not based on gross receipts are reported as a charge for service in the function or activity that generates
the fee. During fiscal year 2025, franchise fees were all based on gross receipts and thus recorded as
general revenues.
Proprietary funds distinguish operating revenues and expenses from non-operating items. Operating
revenues and expenses generally result from providing services and producing and delivering goods in
connection with a proprietary fund's principal ongoing operations. The principal operating revenues of the
City's enterprise funds are charges to customers for sales and services. The City considers all impact fee
revenue as capital contributions for the water and sewer system; therefore, no amount from the impact
fees is included in operating revenue. Operating expenses for enterprise funds include the cost of sales
and service, administrative expenses, and depreciation on capital assets. All revenues and expenses not
meeting this definition are reported as non-operating revenues and expenses.
30
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The following three broad classifications are used to categorize the fund types used by the City:
Governmental
Governmental funds focus on the determination of financial position and changes in financial position
(sources, uses, and balances of financial resources) and not net income. The City has the following major
governmental funds:
General Fund – This is the City's primary operating fund and is used to account for all financial resources
except those required to be accounted for in another fund.
Community Redevelopment Agency Fund – The Community Redevelopment Agency Fund is the
operating fund of the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (the CRA). It is used to
account for the activities of the CRA. Revenue sources for this fund include tax increment financing
proceeds from ad valorem taxes as well as investment income.
Beal Memorial Cemetery (BMC) Perpetual Care Fund – Accounts for a portion of lot sales at Beal Memorial
Cemetery (the Cemetery), as well as the investment earnings on accumulated unspent proceeds from lot
sales, that are committed by ordinance to fund perpetual care of the Cemetery.
Proprietary
Proprietary funds focus on the determination of net income, changes in net position, financial position, and
cash flows. All of the City's proprietary funds are enterprise funds, as fees are charged to external users
for services. The following is a description of the major proprietary funds of the City:
Utilities Fund – Used to account for the operations of the City, which provides distribution of potable water,
sales and service and sanitary wastewater collection, treatment and disposal.
Sanitation Fund – Accounts for the operation of the City that provides for solid waste collection and
disposal.
Stormwater Fund – Used to account for the revenues and expenses associated with operating the City’s
stormwater utility system.
Fiduciary
Fiduciary funds are used to account for the assets held on behalf of outside parties, including other
governments, or on behalf of other funds within the City. The City has the following type of fiduciary fund:
Pension Trust Funds – Used to report the resources that are required to be held in trust for the members
and beneficiaries of the three defined benefit pension plans administered by the City: General Employees'
Retirement Fund, Police Officers' Retirement Fund, and Firefighters' Retirement Fund.
Assets, Liabilities, Deferred Outflows/Inflows, and Net Position or Fund Balance
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The City defines cash and cash equivalents as cash held at a depository and cash on hand for operating
purposes and those investments which are short term and highly liquid. Generally, those investments have
maturities of three (3) months or less from the date of acquisition. The City maintains an equity in pooled
cash fund. The City’s cash deposits are held by banks that qualify as public depositories under the Florida
Security for Public Deposits Act as required by Chapter 280, Florida Statutes. The City’s cash deposits
are held by banks that are Qualified Public Depositories under the Florida Security for Public Deposits Act
as required by Chapter 280, Florida Statutes.
31
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Investments
Investments for the City are reported at fair value (generally based on quoted market prices). Investments
are pooled together for investment purposes while each individual fund and/or account is maintained on
a daily transaction basis. Investment earnings are distributed in accordance with the participating funds’
relative equity. Allowable investments, with the appropriate minimum rating requirements, can consist of
certificates of deposit, local government surplus trust fund, intergovernmental investment pool, SEC
registered money market funds, United States government securities, repurchase agreements, banker’s
acceptances, commercial paper, United States government agencies, federal instruments, securitized
issues, corporate notes and state or local government taxable or tax-exempt debt.
In addition, the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care special revenue fund and the pension trust funds
maintain separate investment accounts that are governed by separate investment policies. The Beal
Memorial Cemetery investment policy allows for investments in domestic equities, international equities,
real estate investment trusts, inflation hedges, fixed income securities, and cash equivalents within
allowable ranges, ratings, and consideration of target asset allocations by asset class. The pension trust
funds’ investment policies allow for investments in domestic and international equities, fixed income
securities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, commingled funds, money market funds, and value add
real estate within allowable ranges, ratings, and considerations of target asset allocations by range;
however allowable asset classes, targets, ranges, and benchmarks vary by each individual policy. These
investments are also reported at fair value.
Receivables and Payables
Interfund transactions are reflected as loans, services provided, reimbursements, or transfers. Loans
between funds outstanding at the end of the fiscal year are referred to as either "due to other funds" or
"due from other funds" (i.e., the current portion of interfund loans) or "advances" (i.e., the non-current
portion of interfund loans). Any residual balances outstanding between governmental activities and
business-type activities are reported in the government-wide financial statements as "internal balances."
Advances between funds, as reported in the fund financial statements, are offset by a nonspendable fund
balance account in applicable governmental funds to indicate that they are not available for appropriation
and are not expendable and available financial resources.
Services provided, deemed to be at market, or near market rates, are treated as revenues and
expenditures/expenses. Reimbursements occur when one fund incurs a cost, charges the appropriate
benefiting fund, and reduces its related cost as a reimbursement. All other interfund transactions are
treated as transfers. Transfers between governmental or proprietary funds are netted as part of the
reconciliation to the government-wide columnar presentation.
All proprietary fund receivables are shown net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The allowance
is computed by considering 100% of receivables in excess of 90 days, past trends on collections of
accounts, and current year account write–offs.
Inventory
Inventory is valued at cost (first-in, first-out). The consumption method is used to account for inventory.
Under the consumption method, inventory items are recorded as expenditures during the period the
inventory is used. The General Fund inventory balance is considered nonspendable in the fund financial
statements to indicate that it is not available for appropriation.
32
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Restricted Assets
Certain resources in the following funds are restricted for specific purposes: in the General Fund for
discretionary sales taxes, local option fuel taxes, and various contributions from donors for specified
purposes; in the Utilities Fund for customer deposits, impact fees and debt service; in the Sanitation Fund
for customer deposits.
Capital Assets
Capital assets, which include property, plant, equipment, and infrastructure assets (roads, bridges, curbs
and sidewalks, drainage systems, lighting systems and similar items) are reported in the applicable
governmental or business-type activities columns in the government–wide financial statements.
Capital assets are defined by the City as assets with an initial cost more than the following:
Land All
Buildings and improvements / infrastructure $ 10,000
Improvements – other $ 10,000
Equipment, vehicles, computers $ 1,000
Library books All
In the case of the initial capitalization of general infrastructure assets (i.e., those reported by governmental
activities) the government chose to include all such items regardless of their acquisition date or amount.
The government was able to estimate the historical cost for the initial reporting of these assets through
various allowable estimating techniques. As the government constructs or acquires additional capital
assets each period, including infrastructure assets, they are capitalized and reported at historical cost.
The reported value excludes normal maintenance and repairs which are essentially amounts spent in
relation to capital assets that do not increase the capacity or efficiency of the item or extend its useful life
beyond the original estimate. Donated capital assets are recorded at their acquisition value on the date of
donation.
Major outlays for capital assets and improvements are capitalized in proprietary funds as projects are
constructed. The amount of interest to be capitalized is calculated by offsetting interest expense incurred
from the date of the borrowing until the completion of the project with interest earned on the invested
proceeds over the same period.
Property, plant, and equipment of the primary government are depreciated using the straight-line method
over the following estimated useful lives:
Assets Years
Buildings 20-50 Years
Improvements other than buildings / system infrastructure 7-40 Years
System infrastructure 20-40 Years
Machinery and equipment 3-10 Years
Right-of-use lease assets 3-20 Years
Subscription assets 3-10 Years
33
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Leases
The City recognizes a lease receivable and a deferred inflow of resources for noncancellable leases in
which the City is the lessor. At the commencement of the lease, the City measures the lease receivable
at the present value of payments expected to be received during the lease term. The deferred inflow of
resources is measured at the initial amount of the lease receivable adjusted for lease payments received
at or before the lease commencement date. In subsequent periods, the lease receivable is reduced by the
principal portion of lease payments received and the deferred inflow of resources is recognized as revenue
over the life of the lease term. The City monitors changes in circumstances that would require
remeasurement of lease receivables and deferred inflows of resources.
The City recognizes a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a lease liability for noncancellable leases in which the
City is the lessee. At the commencement of the lease, the City measures the lease liability at the present
value of expected lease payments to be made during the lease term. The lease asset is measured as the
initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for payments made prior to the lease commencement date and
any ancillary costs to place the asset into service. The ROU asset is amortized over the shorter of the
useful life of the asset or the lease term. In subsequent periods, the lease liability is reduced by the
principal portion of lease payments made. The City monitors changes in circumstances that would require
remeasurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities.
Subscription Based Information Technology Arrangements (SBITA’s)
The City records a subscription asset and a related subscription liability for subscription-based information
technology arrangements (SBITA’s) at the commencement of the agreement. The subscription liability is
measured at the present value of payments expected to be made during the subscription term. The
subscription asset is measured at the initial amount of the subscription liability adjusted for any payments
made at or before the beginning of the subscription term. The City monitors changes in circumstances
that would require remeasurement of subscription assets and liabilities.
Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources
In addition to assets, the statement of financial position will report a separate section for deferred outflows
of resources. This separate financial statement element, deferred outflows of resources, represents a
consumption of net assets that applies to a future period(s) and so will not be recognized as an outflow of
resources (expense/expenditure) until then. See Note 7 for additional information on the City’s deferred
outflows of resources.
In addition to liabilities, the statement of financial position will report a separate section for deferred inflows
of resources. This separate financial statement element, deferred inflows of resources, represents an
acquisition of net assets that applies to a future period(s) and so will not be recognized as an inflow of
resources (revenue) until that time. See Note 7 for additional information on the City’s deferred inflows of
resources.
Compensated Absences
The City records a compensated absences liability for leave that 1) can be carried forward to future
reporting periods; 2) was earned based on service that the employee has already provided; and 3) is more
likely than not to be used, paid, or otherwise settled with the City. The compensated absences liability is
measured using the pay rates in effect as of the financial statement date, including directly and
incrementally associated salary-related employer taxes and benefits. Changes to pay rates will be
recognized in future periods as those changes occur. The City uses a first-in, first-out (FIFO) flow
assumption for calculating the portion of the liability due within one year.
34
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Long-Term Obligations
In the government-wide financial statements and proprietary fund financial statements, long-term debt and
other long-term obligations are reported as liabilities in the applicable governmental activities, business-
type activities, or proprietary fund type statement of net position. Bond premiums and discounts are
deferred and amortized over the life of the bonds using the effective and straight-line interest methods.
Bond issuance costs are expensed as they are incurred. Bonds payable are reported net of the applicable
bond premium or discount.
In the fund financial statements, governmental fund types recognize bond premiums and discounts, as
well as issuance costs, during the current period. The face amount of debt issued is reported as other
financing sources. Issuance costs, whether or not withheld from the actual debt proceeds received, are
reported as debt service expenditures.
Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB) Liability
For the purposes of measuring the total OPEB Liability, deferred outflows of resources and deferred
inflows of resources related to OPEB, and OPEB expense, information about the total OPEB liability of
the Fort Walton Beach's Retiree Health Care Plan and additions to/deductions from the plan's total OPEB
liability have been determined on the same basis as they are reported by the plan. For this purpose, the
plan recognizes benefit payments when due and payable in accordance with the benefit terms. Typically,
OPEB liabilities for governmental activities have been liquidated by the General Fund. See Note 11 for
additional information about the City’s other postemployment benefit plan.
Net Pension Liability
For purposes of measuring the net pension liability, deferred outflows and inflows of resources related to
pensions, and pension expense, information about the fiduciary net position of each plan, and additions
to/deductions from the fiduciary net position of each plan have been determined on the same basis as
they are reported by the Plans. For this purpose, benefit payments (including refunds of employee
contributions, if any) are recognized when currently due and payable in accordance with the benefit terms.
Investments are reported at fair value. Administrative costs are financed from each respective fund’s
investment earnings. Typically, pension liabilities for governmental activities have been liquidated by the
General Fund.
GASB Statement No. 68 requires that the reported results must pertain to liability and asset information
within certain defined timeframes. For this report, the following timeframes are used:
Valuation Date (VD) October 1, 2023
Measurement Date (MD) September 30, 2024
Measurement Period (MP) October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024
Classification of Fund Balance
GASB guidance establishes fund balance classifications that comprise a hierarchy based primarily on the
extent to which a government is bound to observe constraints imposed upon the use of the resources
reported in governmental funds. Fund balance classifications are comprised of the following:
Nonspendable – Includes amounts that are (a) not in spendable form, or (b) legally or contractually
required to be maintained intact. The "not in spendable form" criterion includes items that are not expected
to be converted to cash, for example: inventories, deposits, prepaid items, and advances from other funds.
Restricted – Includes amounts that can be spent only for the specific purposes stipulated by external
resource providers, constitutionally or through enabling legislation. Restrictions may effectively be
changed or lifted only with the consent of resource providers.
35
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Committed – Includes fund balance amounts that can be used only for the specific purposes that are
internally imposed by the formal action (an Ordinance) of the government’s highest level of decision-
making authority, the City Council. Commitments may be changed or lifted only by the City taking the
same formal action (an Ordinance) that imposed the constraint initially. Contractual obligations are
included to the extent that existing resources in the fund have been specifically committed for use in
satisfying those contractual obligations.
Assigned – Includes spendable fund balance amounts that are intended to be used for specific purposes
that are neither considered restricted nor committed. Intent is expressed by (a) the City Council or (b) a
body (for example: a budget or finance committee) or official to which the City Council has delegated the
authority to assign amounts to be used for specific purposes. This indicates that resources in these funds
are, at a minimum, intended to be used for the purposes of that fund. The City Council has delegated
authority to the City Manager and Finance Director in accordance with the City's fund balance policy.
Unassigned – Includes residual positive fund balance within the General Fund which has not been
classified within the other aforementioned categories. Unassigned fund balance may also include negative
balances for any governmental fund if expenditures exceed amounts restricted, committed, or assigned
for those specific purposes.
These classifications reflect not only the nature of funds but also provide clarity to the level of restriction
placed upon fund balance. Fund balance can have different levels of restraint, such as external versus
internal compliance requirements. Unassigned fund balance is a residual classification within the General
Fund. The General Fund should be the only fund that reports a positive unassigned balance. In all other
funds, unassigned is limited to negative residual fund balance.
The City's formal fund balance policy establishes a targeted minimum reserve balance in the General
Fund for committed fund balance equal to 30% of annual budgeted expenditures, which constitutes the
City’s minimum fund balance policy. In circumstances when an expenditure is made for a purpose for
which amounts are available in multiple fund balance classifications, fund balance is generally depleted in
the order of restricted, committed, assigned, and unassigned.
Net Position
When both restricted and unrestricted resources are available for use, it is the government's policy to use
restricted resources first and then unrestricted resources, as they are needed.
Change in Accounting Principle
Effective October 1, 2024, the City adopted the provisions of GASB Statement No. 101, Compensated
Absences (GASBS 101). This pronouncement establishes a unified model for recognition and
measurement of liabilities associated with compensated absences, including vacation, sick leave and
other paid time off. GASBS 101 is expected to result in a liability for compensated absences that more
appropriately reflects when a government incurs an obligation and can be applied consistently to different
types of leave offered by governmental employers.
As part of the implementation process, the City has evaluated whether leave is more likely than not to be
used for time off or otherwise paid in cash or settled through noncash means by assessing relevant factors,
such as the City’s employment policies related to compensated absences; historical information about the
use, payment, or forfeiture of compensated absences; and known information that would indicate that
historical information may not be representative of future trends or patterns. GASBS 101 was retroactively
implemented, which resulted in a restatement of the City’s beginning net position. The effects of the
restatement on beginning net position for each reporting unit can be found in Note 20.
36
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts presented in the prior year have been reclassified in order to be consistent with the
current year presentation. Such reclassifications have no effect on total fund balance or net position
previously reported.
Subsequent Events
The City has evaluated events and transactions that occurred between September 30, 2025, and March
27, 2026, which is the date the financial statements were available to be issued, for possible recognition
or disclosure in the financial statements.
2. STEWARDSHIP, COMPLIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Budgets
Budgets are adopted on a basis consistent with U.S. GAAP. Annual appropriated budgets are adopted by
resolution for all governmental and proprietary funds. However, budgets for proprietary funds are not
legally required to be reported on and are not included in these financial statements. All appropriations
lapse at fiscal year-end except for appropriations related to multi-year capital projects.
Encumbrances
Encumbrances represent commitments related to unperformed contracts for goods or services.
Encumbrance accounting is a form of budgetary control to ensure that appropriations are not exceeded.
Encumbrances outstanding that are not expected to be satisfied by restricted or committed resources are
reported as assignments of fund balance in the governmental fund types.
3. DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS
The City maintains a cash and investment management pool in which each major governmental and
enterprise fund participates on a dollar equivalent and daily transaction basis. The City's cash and
investment management pool includes pooled cash maintained in interest-bearing demand deposit
accounts, and pooled investments managed by a financial institution. Interest income (which includes
unrealized gains and losses) is distributed monthly based on the average balances.
Deposits
Custodial Credit Risk – It is the City's policy to maintain its deposits only with "Qualified Public
Depositories" as defined in Chapter 280, Florida Statutes. The provisions of this statute allow Qualified
Public Depositories to participate in a multiple financial institution collateral pool to ensure the security for
public deposits. All Qualified Public Depositories must place with (or in the name of) the Chief Financial
Officer of the State of Florida, collateral in the amount of the average daily balance of public deposits
multiplied by the average monthly balance of public deposits or 125 percent of the average daily balance
of public deposits greater than capital. In the event of default by a Qualified Public Depository, excess
losses over insurance and collateral will be recovered through assessments to all Qualified Public
Depositories of the same type as the depository in default.
37
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Under this method, all City deposits, including certificates of deposit, are considered fully insured. As of
September 30, 2025, the value of the City's deposits was $6,968,397, all of which was held by Qualified
Public Depositories under Florida Statutes.
Investments
As of September 30, 2025, the City's investments consist of the pooled investments held by each fund to
maximize earnings on surplus cash, those held in the various pension trust funds and the Beal Memorial
Cemetery Perpetual Care special revenue fund. The types of investments, which can be made by the City,
are restricted by state statutes, retirement fund plan documents, and other contractual agreements. A
description of the requirements and the types of investments allowed can be found in Note 1.
Interest Rate Risk – The City's investment policy encourages matching investment maturities with known
cash needs and anticipated cash flow requirements in order to manage interest rate risk. Investments of
current operating funds shall have maturities of no longer than 24 months. Investments of bond reserves,
construction funds, and other non-operating funds shall have a term appropriate to the need for funds and
in accordance with debt covenants, but in no event shall the investment duration of these funds exceed
five years. The investment policies for the pension trust funds do not specifically address interest rate risk.
As of September 30, 2025, the City held the following investments and related maturities:
INVESTMENT MATURITIES (YEARS)
Fair Value <1 1-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25 25-30 >30
Investments subject
to interest rate risk:
Corporate debt $ 12,996,438 $ 453,029 $ 12,083,499 $ 459,910 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Municipal debt 124,759 124,759 - - - - - - -
U.S. Treasury 23,921,401 - 18,672,603 3,570,557 - 1,105,166 573,075 - -
U.S. Government
agencies CMO's 5,237,644 - - - 159,029 164,054 53,286 4,861,275 -
42,280,242 $ 577,788 $ 30,756,102 $ 4,030,467 $ 159,029 $ 1,269,220 $ 626,361 $ 4,861,275 $ -
Investments not subject
to interest rate risk:
Money market funds 2,719,068
Mutual and exchange-
traded funds 100,888,865
Real estate
investment funds 8,871,543
Infrastructure
investment funds 7,518,553
External investment
pools 9,486,050
Total $ 171,764,321
Credit Rate Risk – State law limits investments of surplus public funds to those investments described on
the previous page. The table on the next page outlines the authorized investments of the pension trust
funds.
38
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
General Police
Employees' Officers' Firefighters'
Retirement Retirement Retirement
Investment Type Fund Fund Fund
Money Market or short- Minimum rating of Limited to obligations Minimum rating of
term investment fund A1 by S&P or backed by full faith & A1 by S&P or
(STIF) options P1 by Moody's credit of US government P1 by Moody's
Minimum rating in one Minimum rating of Minimum rating in one of
Fixed-income securities of the four highest "investment grade" or the four highest
classifications by a higher by a major rating classifications by a major
major rating service service rating service 1
(1) No more than 5% of the total portfolio may be invested in securities that fall below
these rating guidelines.
All pension trust funds were in compliance with respective investment policies regarding credit rate risk as
of September 30, 2025.
The Moody's rating ranges of the different investment classes held by each respective plan at September
30, 2025, are as follows:
General Pension Police Pension
Plan Plan Fire Pension Plan
Corporate debt N/A Aa2-A3 Aa2-A3
U.S. Treasury N/A Aa1 Aaa
U.S. government agency pools N/A NR NR
The Beal Memorial Cemetery investment policy does not limit investments to those with specific credit
ratings for domestic or international equities. The overall rating of fixed income investments shall be at
least investment grade based on the rating of two of the three Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating
Organizations (NRSRO).
Concentration of Credit Risk – The City limits the amount that may be invested in any one issuer based
on the type of investment. Investments issued by or explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. Government and
investments in mutual funds, external investment pools, and other pooled investments are exempt from
concentration of credit risk disclosures.
39
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The General Employees’ Retirement Fund and the Firefighters’ Retirement Fund investment policies limit
investment concentration as follows:
Equities – No more than 5% of the Plan’s assets, at the time of purchase, shall be invested in the
common stock, capital stock, or convertible stock of any single issuing company, nor shall the
aggregate investment in any single issuing company exceed 5% of the outstanding capital stock
of the company.
Fixed Income – The value of bonds issued by any single corporation shall not exceed 10% of the
Plan’s total fair value.
Other Limitations – Investments in corporate common stock and convertible bonds shall not
exceed 75% of the Plan’s assets at fair value, and foreign securities shall not exceed 25% of the
Plan’s fair value.
The Police Officers’ Retirement Fund investment policy limits investment concentration as follows:
Equities – No more than 5% of the Plan’s assets, at the time of purchase, shall be invested in the
common stock, capital stock, or convertible stock of any single issuing company, nor shall the
aggregate investment in any single issuing company exceed 5% of the outstanding capital stock
of the company.
Fixed Income – The value of bonds issued by any single corporation shall not exceed 3% of the
Plan’s total fair value.
Other Limitations – Investments in corporate common stock and convertible bonds shall not
exceed 70% of the Plan’s assets at fair value, and foreign securities shall not exceed 25% of the
Plan’s fair value.
All pension trust fund plans were in compliance with respective investment policies regarding
concentration of credit risk as of September 30, 2025.
The Beal Memorial Cemetery investment policy limits investment concentrations as follows:
Domestic Equities – No more than 5% of the fair value of the total equity portfolio may be invested
in the equity of any one corporation; ownership of the shares of one company shall not exceed 2%
of those outstanding and not more than 25% of equity at fair value may be held in any one sector.
International Equities – No more than 5% of the fair value of the total equity portfolio may be
invested in the common equity of any one corporation; ownership of the shares of one company
shall not exceed 2% of those outstanding and not more than 25% of equity at fair value may be
held in any one sector.
Fixed Income Investments – Securities of any one issuer shall not exceed 5% of a total bond
portfolio at time of purchase.
Investments in Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value (NAV) per Share
The fair values of investments in real estate funds and external investment pools held by the pension trust
funds are based on the investments’ NAV per share, as provided by the investee.
40
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The real estate funds consist of three open-ended commingled funds that invest in office, industrial, retail,
and multi-family real estate assets throughout the United States. Although the funds are private
investments, they can be redeemed on a quarterly basis, subject to available liquidity.
The infrastructure funds consist of three open-ended funds that invest in long-duration core infrastructure
assets throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Although the funds are private investments, they
can be redeemed on a quarterly basis, subject to available liquidity.
Unfunded Redemption Redemption
Fair Value Commitments Frequency Notice Period
Real estate funds $ 8,871,543 None Quarterly 0 - 90 days
Infrastructure funds 7,518,553 None Quarterly 0 - 90 days
Local Government Investment Pool
The City has an investment account with an external intergovernmental investment pool known as Florida
Public Assets for Liquidity Management (FL PALM). FL PALM is a stable $1 NAV government investment
pool established pursuant to Section 163.01, Florida Statutes. The investment pool meets the
requirements for reporting at amortized cost, which is not materially different from fair value. FL PALM is
designed to maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of no more than 60 days and was rated AAAm
by Standard & Poor’s. As of September 30, 2025, there were no redemption fees or maximum transaction
amounts, or any other requirements that serve to limit the City’s daily access to 100 percent of its account
value.
4. FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS
The City measures and records its investments using fair value measurement guidelines established by
generally accepted accounting principles. These guidelines recognize a three-tiered fair value hierarchy,
as follow:
Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets in active markets that a government can
access at the measurement date.
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for an asset,
either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for an asset.
The table on the next page presents the investments carried at fair value on September 30, 2025.
41
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Money market funds $ 2,719,068 $ 2,431,367 $ 287,701 $ -
Debt securities
U.S. Treasury bonds 23,921,401 19,664,708 4,256,693 -
U.S. Government Agency collateralized
mortgage obligations (CMO's) 5,237,644 - 5,237,644 -
Corporate bonds 12,996,438 - 12,996,438 -
Municipal bonds 124,759 - 124,759 -
Total debt securities 42,280,242 19,664,708 22,615,534 -
Equity securities
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds 100,888,865 95,902,276 4,986,589 -
* Infrastructure investment funds 7,518,553 - - -
* Real estate investment funds 8,871,543 - - -
Total investments measured at fair value 162,278,271 $ 117,998,351 $ 27,889,824 $ -
Total investments measured at amortized cost 9,486,050
Total investments at September 30, 2025 $ 171,764,321
* In accordance with GASB 72, certain investments that were measured at NAV per share (or its equivalent) have not been
classified in the fair value hierarchy.
Money market funds, debt securities, and equity securities classified in Level 2 are determined by broker
quotes that utilize matrix pricing models and other observable market inputs.
5. RECEIVABLES
Receivables on September 30, 2025, were as follows:
Governmental
Activities Business-Type Activities
General CRA Fund Utilities Sanitation Stormwater Total
Taxes $ 28,173 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 28,173
Accounts 192,297 641 1,032,013 368,043 75,811 1,668,805
Less allowance for
doubtful accounts - - (133,446) (55,677) (11,750) (200,873)
Assessments 35,714 - 3,183 - - 38,897
Notes 313,515 - - - - 313,515
Leases receivble 3,358,884 - - - - 3,358,884
Total receivables, net $ 3,928,583 $ 641 $ 901,750 $ 312,366 $ 64,061 $ 5,207,401
During fiscal year 2015, the City sold a building for $462,000 and will receive $442,000 of the proceeds
over twelve years ($2,917 monthly payments started November 2014). This note receivable bears interest
at 5.00% per year and includes a balloon payment of $250,065 due to the City in October 2026. The
balance of this note receivable was $272,762 as of September 30, 2025.
42
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
During fiscal year 2014, the City sold a recreation center for $425,000 and will receive the proceeds over
twelve years ($3,000 monthly principal only payments started October 2015). The City has calculated
imputed interest on the receivable, but it has not been recorded as the imputed amount was deemed to
be immaterial to the financial statements. The balance of this note receivable was $29,000 as of
September 30, 2025.
During fiscal year 2023, the City sold a building for $165,400 and received $125,000 from the buyer at
closing. The remaining balance of $40,400 is due in January 2030. The promissory note gives the buyer
the option to make specified in-kind building improvements to satisfy the note in lieu of repayment. The
balance of the note receivable was $11,753, as of September 30, 2025.
Since these notes receivable will be collected outside the periods of availability, they are reflected in the
General Fund’s balance sheet as deferred inflows of resources as of September 30, 2025.
Leases Receivable
The City leases real property to various unrelated parties. The real property is used by the lessees for the
following purposes: retail business space, office space, parking lots, cellular and radio communications
towers, a restaurant, a fitness center, an art gallery, and an elementary school. Under the provisions of
GASB Statement No. 87, the City is a lessor under 10 real property leases.
The City’s lease receivable is measured at the present value of lease payments expected to be received
during the lease term, including options reasonably certain to be exercised. The remaining lease terms
range from 4 to 46 years, and the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the lease payments
range from 2.50% to 6.50%. In circumstances in which the rate implicit in the lease cannot be determined,
the City uses a discount rate of 5.13%, which is the City’s estimated incremental borrowing rate for real
property. The total amount of inflows of resources recognized and reflected in the financial statements
were as follows:
General
Fund
Lease revenue $ 475,091
Interest 155,168
Total inflows of resources - leases $ 630,259
Due from Other Governments
As of September 30, 2025, the City's receivables from other governments for governmental activities were
$1,937,232. Amounts due from other governments for governmental activities consists primarily of
amounts due from federal and state grant funding agencies for eligible grant expenditures incurred prior
to September 30, 2025.
As of September 30, 2025, the City’s receivables from other governments for business-type activities were
$1,056,144, which is consists entirely of amounts due from the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection for eligible grant expenses incurred prior to September 30, 2025.
43
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
6. CHANGES IN CAPITAL ASSETS
Capital asset activity for the year ended September 30, 2025, was as follows:
Beginning Adjustments/ Ending
Balance Increases Decreases Transfers Balance
Governmental activities
Capital assets not being depreciated/amortized
Land $ 8,826,730 $ - $ - $ - $ 8,826,730
Construction in progress 6,362,741 4,961,264 - (1,719,434) 9,604,571
Total capital assets not
being depreciated/amortized 15,189,471 4,961,264 - (1,719,434) 18,431,301
Capital assets being depreciated/amortized
Buildings 36,382,890 157,702 (59,861) - 36,480,731
Improvements other than buildings 39,001,195 1,249,108 (700) 1,134,908 41,384,511
Software 574,366 16,950 - - 591,316
Machinery and equipment 17,153,390 1,995,477 (1,071,030) 516,204 18,594,041
Financed equipment 1,464,154 242,000 - - 1,706,154
Right-of-use assets 1,226,225 320,344 (766,005) - 780,564
Subscription assets 2,389,490 1,183,284 (78,296) - 3,494,478
Total capital assets
being depreciated/amortized 98,191,710 5,164,865 (1,975,892) 1,651,112 103,031,795
Less accumulated depreciation/amortization
Buildings (16,040,519) (1,124,341) 59,861 - (17,104,999)
Improvements other than buildings (26,707,535) (1,246,388) 700 91,392 (27,861,831)
Software (572,034) (4,918) - - (576,952)
Machinery and equipment (13,664,104) (1,369,185) 992,797 81,310 (13,959,182)
Right-of-use assets (818,282) (169,392) 766,005 - (221,669)
Subscription assets (1,004,278) (747,893) 61,097 - (1,691,074)
Total accumulated
depreciation/amortization (58,806,752) (4,662,117) 1,880,460 172,702 (61,415,707)
Total capital assets
being depreciated/amortized, net 39,384,958 502,748 (95,432) 1,823,814 41,616,088
Governmental activities, net $ 54,574,429 $ 5,464,012 $ (95,432) $ 104,380 $ 60,047,389
44
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Beginning Adjustments/ Ending
Balance Increases Decreases Transfers Balance
Business-type activities
Capital assets not being depreciated/amortized
Land $ 709,678 $ - $ - $ - $ 709,678
Construction in progress 4,845,796 621,329 - (5,269,620) 197,505
Easements 39,742 - - - 39,742
Total capital assets not
being depreciated/amortized 5,595,216 621,329 - (5,269,620) 946,925
Capital assets being depreciated/amortized
Buildings 183,323 - (51,483) - 131,840
Improvements other than buildings 55,165,357 2,479,345 (3,329) 5,288,635 62,930,008
Software 120,031 - (16,099) - 103,932
Machinery and equipment 12,163,759 673,608 (832,540) (11,859) 11,992,968
Right-of-use assets 258,128 - - - 258,128
Subscription Assets - 244,428 - - 244,428
Total capital assets
being depreciated/amortized 67,890,598 3,397,381 (903,451) 5,276,776 75,661,304
Less accumulated depreciation/amortization
Buildings (118,075) (3,977) 25,742 - (96,310)
Improvements other than buildings (28,698,860) (1,787,128) 3,329 (17,166) (30,499,825)
Software (119,297) (735) 16,100 - (103,932)
Machinery and equipment (9,414,116) (568,584) 832,539 11,859 (9,138,302)
Right-of-use assets (160,452) (64,372) - - (224,824)
Subscription Assets - (43,498) - - (43,498)
Total accumulated
depreciation/amortization (38,510,800) (2,468,294) 877,710 (5,307) (40,106,691)
Total capital assets
being depreciated/amortized, net 29,379,798 929,087 (25,741) 5,271,469 35,554,613
Business-type activities, net $ 34,975,014 $ 1,550,416 $ (25,741) $ 1,849 $ 36,501,538
45
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Amortization of equipment under financing contracts and right-of-use assets is included with depreciation
expense in the financial statements. Depreciation and amortization expense was charged to
functions/programs of the primary government as follows:
Governmental activities
General government $ 880,432
Public safety 1,490,380
Physical environment 80,234
Transportation 517,323
Economic environment 221,407
Culture and recreation 1,472,341
Total depreciation/amortization expense – governmental activities $ 4,662,117
Business-type activities
Utilities Fund $ 1,969,232
Sanitation Fund 269,996
Stormwater Fund 229,066
Total depreciation/amortization expense – business-type activities $ 2,468,294
Construction in Progress – Governmental Activities
The Landing Improvements
In February 2023, the City engaged a construction contractor to perform the Fort Walton Beach Landing
Phase I improvements for a total price of $2,479,665. The City has approved various change orders for
the project since commencement and the total contract price was $2,702,165 as of September 30, 2025.
In April 2024, the City engaged a construction contractor to perform the Fort Walton Beach Landing Phase
II improvements. The total contract price was $2,671,377 as of September 30, 2025, which includes
change orders totaling $219,786.
In December 2024, the City engaged a construction contractor to perform the Fort Walton Beach Landing
Phase III improvements. The total contract price was $983,831 as of September 30, 2025, which includes
change orders totaling $345,158.
The project costs are being funded from several sources including a grant from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP), tourist development tax proceeds, discretionary sales surtax proceeds,
and tax increment revenues of the CRA. As of September 30, 2025, the City has incurred total contract
costs of $4,865,894 for all phases of the project, which includes unbilled retainage of $91,554. The project
is expected to be completed in April 2026.
Heritage Park and Cultural Center Museum Addition
In August 2023, the City engaged a construction contractor to perform the Heritage Park and Cultural
Center museum addition. The addition includes a new entrance for the museum, a larger gift shop,
administrative offices, storage, and an area for specialty programs. As of September 30, 2025, the total
contract price was $1,896,422, which includes change orders. The project costs are being funded from
multiple sources including tourist development tax proceeds, discretionary sales surtax proceeds, and tax
increment revenues of the CRA. The City reported total contract costs of $1,872,711, as of September 30,
2025, which includes unbilled retainage of $153,638. The project was completed in November 2025.
46
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
7. DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES AND DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES
As of September 30, 2025, the City had various components of deferred outflows of resources and
deferred inflows of resources as follows:
Governmental activities:
General Governmental
Fund Activities
Deferred outflows of resources
City pension contributions made subsequent to the measurement date $ - $ 3,948,635
Differences between expected and actual experience on pension plan
actuarial assumptions - 1,448,861
Changes in assumptions related to pension plan - 193,549
City OPEB contributions made subsequent to the measurement date 173,546
Changes in assumptions related to OPEB plan - 441,446
Total deferred outflows of resources $ - $ 6,206,037
Deferred inflows of resources
Differences between expected and actual experience on pension plan
actuarial assumptions $ - $ 724,921
Net difference between projected and actual earnings on pension plan
investments - 4,369,403
Differences between expected and actual experience on OPEB plan
actuarial assumptions - 1,041,904
Changes in assumptions related to OPEB plan 873,450
Leases 3,007,854 3,007,854
Unavailable revenue - special assessments 35,714 -
Unavailable revenue - long-term receivables from sale of buildings 313,515 -
Total deferred inflows of resources $ 3,357,083 $ 10,017,532
Business-type activities:
Utilities Sanitation Stormwater Business-Type
Fund Fund Fund Activities
Deferred outflows of resources
City pension contributions made
subsequent to the measurement date $ 49,467 $ 37,806 $ 5,428 $ 92,701
Deferred loss on refunding 43,501 - - 43,501
City OPEB contributions made
subsequent to the measurement date 24,119 16,064 6,338 46,521
Changes in assumptions related to OPEB plan 61,364 40,870 16,111 118,345
Total deferred outflows of resources $ 178,451 $ 94,740 $ 27,877 $ 301,068
Deferred inflows of resources
Net difference between projected and actual
earnings on pension plan investments $ 523,238 $ 399,895 $ 57,415 $ 980,548
Changes in assumptions related to OPEB plan 121,382 80,849 31,912 234,143
Differences between expected and actual
experience on OPEB plan actuarial
assumptions 144,811 96,452 38,044 279,307
Total deferred inflows of resources $ 789,431 $ 577,196 $ 127,371 $ 1,493,998
47
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
8. DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS
The City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida sponsors three single employer defined benefit pension plans: the
General Employees' Retirement Fund (GERF), the Police Officers' Retirement Fund (PORF) and the
Firefighters' Retirement Fund (FRF). These plans provide benefits for all qualifying employees of the City.
The financial activity of each plan is reported as a pension trust fund in the City’s internal combined
financial statements and can be found under subheading “Fund Financial Statements” of this note. There
is no separate report available for the individual pension plans.
Plan Description – General Employees’ Retirement Fund (GERF)
Plan Administration
The authority and responsibility for the establishment, amendment and administration of this Plan is vested
in the City Council, and the Members thereof shall be designated as trustees of the fund. The trustees are
authorized to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the administration of the fund created by this
Plan.
The Plan is a single employer defined benefit pension plan administered by the City’s Finance Director.
The Finance Director shall administer this Plan for the trustees and participants, subject at all times to the
limitations and conditions specified in or imposed by provisions of this Plan and the rules and regulations
adopted by the City Council. The trustees and the plan administrator shall serve without additional
compensation beyond that already provided by the City for their respective duties.
Plan membership consists of all full-time City employees including the City Manager, Finance Director,
and the Chief of Police, if they elect to participate, but not including City Council Members, police officers
other than the Chief of Police, and firefighters. Effective January 1, 2010, the plan is closed to new
entrants.
Plan Membership as of October 1, 2023:
Inactive Plan Members or Beneficiaries Current Receiving Benefits 173
Inactive Plan Members Entitled to But Not Yet Receiving Benefits 39
Active Plan Members 35
247
Benefits Provided
The plan provides retirement, termination, disability and death benefits. A member may retire at age 52
with 10 years of credited service (early retirement) or at age 62 and 10 years of credited service (normal
retirement). Benefits become 100% vested upon completion of 10 years of credited service. For the City
Manager, Finance Director, or Department Heads, including the Chief of Police, the Member becomes
vested at 20% per year, except that credited service other than that as a Charter Officer or Department
Head will accrue at a rate of 10% per year. Retirement benefits are a percentage (2.75% or 2.50%) of final
average earnings times the years of credited service with maximum of 75% or 100% of current
compensation depending on vested status on April 5, 1999. Benefits are reduced by 3% for each year by
which the early retirement date precedes the age of 62. Varied benefits exist for service and non-service-
connected disabilities as well as death in the line of duty or other pre-retirement death.
In accordance with the annual increase in CPI-U as measured in December, all retirees are entitled to an
adjustment payable each April 1, subject to a minimum of 0% and a maximum of 3%. The adjustment
does not apply to members who retire following a vested terminated status or disability retirees.
48
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Funding Policy and Contributions
Contributions to the Plan are established based on an actuarially determined rate recommended by an
independent actuary. For the year ended September 30, 2025, the participants’ contribution rate was
5.0%. The City is required to contribute the remaining amount necessary to fund the normal cost and
amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability over not more than 15 years. For the year ended
September 30, 2025, the City was required to contribute $228,642.
Net Pension Liability – GERF
The measurement date is September 30, 2024. The measurement period for the pension expense was
October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. The reporting period is October 1, 2024 through September 30,
2025. The City’s net pension liability was measured as of September 30, 2024. The total pension liability
used to calculate the net pension liability was determined as of that date.
Actuarial Assumptions
The total pension liability was determined by an actuarial valuation as of October 1, 2023 updated to
September 30, 2024 using the following actuarial assumptions:
Inflation 2.50%
Salary Increases Age-Based
Discount Rate 7.00%
Investment Rate of Return 7.00%
Mortality rates for healthy lives were obtained from the PubG.H-2010 table and were projected
generationally with Scale MP-2018 with the following adjustments:
Males – (Below Median) for Employees and Healthy Retirees set back one-year
Females – Employees and Healthy Retirees
Mortality rates for disabled lives were obtained from the PubG.H-2010 table and were projected
generationally with Scale MP-2018 with the following adjustments:
Males – Disabled Retirees with three-year set forward
Females – Disabled Retirees with three-year set forward
The above mortality assumption rates were mandated by Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida. This
mandate requires the use of assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The above rates
are those outlined in Milliman’s July 1, 2021, FRS valuation report for non-special risk employees, with
appropriate adjustments made based on plan demographics.
The long-term expected rate of return on pension plan investments was determined using a building-block
method in which best-estimate ranges of expected future real rates of return (expected returns, net of
pension plan investment expenses and inflation) are developed for each major asset class. These ranges
are combined to produce the long-term expected rate of return by weighting the expected future real rates
of return by the target asset allocation percentage and by adding expected inflation. For 2024, the inflation
rate assumption of the investment advisor was 2.50%.
Best estimates of arithmetic real rates of return for each major asset class included in the pension plan's
target asset allocation as of the September 30, 2024, measurement date are summarized in the table on
the next page:
49
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Long Term Expected
Asset Class Target Allocation Real Rate of Return
Domestic equity 52.50% 7.50%
International equity 10.00% 8.50%
Broad market fixed income 17.50% 2.50%
Fixed income (non-core) 2.50% 2.50%
Global fixed income 2.50% 3.50%
Real estate 10.00% 4.50%
Infrastructure 5.00% 4.50%
Total 100.00%
Discount Rate
The discount rate used to measure the total pension liability was 7.00%. The projection of cash flows used
to determine the discount rate assumed that plan member contributions will be made at the current
contribution rate and that Sponsor contributions will be made at rates equal to the difference between
actuarially determined contribution rates and the member rate. Based on those assumptions, the pension
plan's fiduciary net position was projected to be available to make all projected future benefit payments of
current plan members. Therefore, the long-term expected rate of return on pension plan investments was
applied to all periods of projected benefit payments to determine the total pension liability.
Changes in Net Pension Liability- GERF
Increase (Decrease)
Total Pension Plan Fiduciary Net Pension
Liability Net Position Liability (Asset)
(a) (b) (a) – (b)
Balances at September 30, 2024
(Valuation Date of 10/01/2023) $ 53,101,382 $ 49,441,828 $ 3,659,554
Changes:
Service cost 245,027 - 245,027
Interest 3,606,688 - 3,606,688
Differences between expected and
actual experience 380,100 - 380,100
Contributions – employer - 284,704 (284,704)
Contributions – employee - 100,094 (100,094)
Net investment income - 10,432,744 (10,432,744)
Benefit payments, including refunds
of employee contributions (3,644,603) (3,644,603) -
Administrative expenses - (55,871) 55,871
Net changes 587,212 7,117,068 (6,529,856)
Balances at September 30, 2025
(Measurement Date of 9/30/2024) $ 53,688,594 $ 56,558,896 $ (2,870,302)
50
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
As of the measurement date, the Plan’s fiduciary net position as a percentage of the total pension liability
was 105.35%.
Sensitivity of the Net Pension Liability to changes in the Discount Rate
Current Discount
1% Decrease Rate 1% Increase
6.00% 7.00% 8.00%
City's net pension liability (asset) $ 2,508,451 $ (2,870,302) $ (7,447,493)
Pension Plan Fiduciary Net Position
Detailed information about the pension Plan's fiduciary net position is available in a separately issued Plan
financial report. A separate audited financial report of the Plan is not available.
Pension Expense and Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources Related to Pensions – GERF
For the year ended September 30, 2025, the City recognized actuarial pension expense of $170,948. On
September 30, 2025, the City reported deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources
related to pensions from the following sources:
Deferred Deferred
Outflows of Inflows of
Resources Resources
City contributions subsequent to measurement date $ 288,642 $ -
Net difference between projected and actual earnings on
pension plan investments - 2,418,478
Total $ 288,642 $ 2,418,478
Deferred outflows of resources related to pensions of $288,642 resulting from the City’s contributions
subsequent to the measurement date will be recognized as a change in the net pension liability for the
year ending September 30, 2026. Other amounts reported as deferred outflows of resources and deferred
inflows of resources related to pensions will be recognized in pension expense as follows:
Year ended September 30:
2026 $ (420,153)
2027 999,111
2028 (1,579,863)
2029 (1,417,573)
$ (2,418,478)
Plan Description – Police Officers’ Retirement Fund (PORF)
Plan Administration
The Police Officers’ Retirement Board of Trustees (Police Board) is designated as the plan administrator.
The Police Board shall consist of five Trustees, two of whom, unless otherwise prohibited by law, shall be
legal residents of the City, who shall be appointed by the City Council, and two of whom shall be Members
of the System, who shall be elected by a majority of the Police Officers who are Members of the System.
51
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The fifth Trustee shall be chosen by a majority of the previous four Trustees as provided for herein, and
such person's name shall be submitted to the City Council who shall, as a ministerial duty, appoint such
person to the Police Board as its fifth Trustee.
Each person employed by the City’s police department as a full-time police officer becomes a member of
the Plan as a condition of his employment. All police officers are therefore eligible for plan benefits as
provided for in the plan document and by applicable law.
Plan Membership as of October 1, 2023:
Inactive Plan Members or Beneficiaries Currently Receiving Benefits 50
Inactive Plan Members Entitled to But Not Yet Receiving Benefits 25
Active Plan Members 51
126
Benefits Provided
The plan provides retirement, termination, disability and death benefits. A member may retire at age 50
with 10 years of credited service or completion of 25 years of credited service (early retirement) or at age
55 or the completion of 30 years of credited service (normal retirement). Members hired between ages 45
and 50 must work 10 years. Benefits become 100% vested upon completion of 10 years of credited
service. The plan provides retirement benefits in the amount of 2.75% of average final compensation times
credited service. Benefits are reduced 6% for each year prior to the age of 55. Varied benefits exist for
disability and pre-retirement death. Each April 1 the benefit paid to service retires is adjusted in accordance
with the CPI increase during the previous year not to exceed 3%.
Contributions
Contributions to the Plan are established based on an actuarially determined rate recommended by an
independent actuary. For the year ended September 30, 2025, the participants’ contribution rate was 5.0%
of payroll until a 75% maximum accrual is attained and then 0.5% thereafter. The State of Florida was
required to contribute 7.2% of payroll and the City was required to contribute the difference between the
actuarially determined rate and the contribution rate of the participants and the State of Florida. For the
year ended September 30, 2025, the City was required to contribute 36.5% of payroll.
Net Pension Liability – PORF
The measurement date is September 30, 2024. The measurement period for the pension expense was
October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. The reporting period is October 1, 2024 through September 30,
2025. The City’s net pension liability was measured as of September 30, 2024. The total pension liability
used to calculate the net pension liability was determined as of that date.
Actuarial Assumptions
The total pension liability was determined by an actuarial valuation as of October 1, 2023 updated to
September 30, 2024, using the following actuarial assumptions:
Inflation 2.50%
Salary increases Service based
Discount rate 7.00%
Investment rate of return 7.00%
52
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Mortality rates for healthy lives were obtained from the PubS.H-2010 table and were projected
generationally with Scale MP-2018 with the following adjustments:
Males – (Below Median) for Employees and Healthy Retirees set forward one-year
Females – (Below Median) for Employees and Healthy Retirees set forward one-year
Mortality rates for disabled lives were obtained from the PubH-2010 table and were projected
generationally with Scale MP-2018 with the following adjustments:
Males – 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
Females – 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
The above mortality assumption rates were mandated by Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida. This
mandate requires the use of assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The above rates
are those outlined in Milliman’s July 1, 2021, FRS valuation report for special risk employees, with
appropriate adjustments made based on plan demographics.
The other significant actuarial assumptions used in the October 1, 2023, valuation were based on the
results of an actuarial experience study dated June 4, 2018. The long-term expected rate of return on
pension plan investments was determined using a building-block method in which best-estimate ranges
of expected future real rates of return (expected returns, net of pension plan investment expenses and
inflation) are developed for each major asset class. These ranges are combined to produce the long-term
expected rate of return by weighting the expected future real rates of return by the target asset allocation
percentage and by adding expected inflation. For 2024, the inflation rate assumption of the investment
advisor was 2.50%.
Best estimates of arithmetic real rates of return for each major asset class included in the pension plan's
target asset allocation as of the September 30, 2024, measurement date are summarized in the table
below:
Long Term Expected
Asset Class Target Allocation Real Rate of Return
Domestic equity 45.00% 7.50%
International equity 15.00% 8.50%
Broad market fixed income 20.00% 2.50%
Fixed income (non-core) 2.50% 2.50%
Global fixed income 2.50% 3.50%
Real estate 10.00% 4.50%
Infrastructure 5.00% 4.50%
Total 100.00%
Discount Rate
The discount rate used to measure the total pension liability was 7.00%. The projection of cash flows used
to determine the discount rate assumed that plan member contributions will be made at the current
contribution rate and that sponsor contributions will be made at rates equal to the difference between
actuarially determined contribution rates and the member rate. Based on those assumptions, the pension
plan's fiduciary net position was projected to be available to make all projected future benefit payments of
current plan members. Therefore, the long-term expected rate of return on pension plan investments was
applied to all periods of projected benefit payments to determine the total pension liability.
53
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Changes in Net Pension Liability – PORF
Increase (Decrease)
Total Pension Plan Fiduciary Net Pension
Liability Net Position Liability
(a) (b) (a) – (b)
Balances at September 30, 2024
(Valuation Date of 10/01/2023) $ 32,744,351 $ 25,984,001 $ 6,760,350
Changes:
Service cost 902,915 - 902,915
Interest 2,280,478 - 2,280,478
Differences between expected and
actual experience 1,333,735 - 1,333,735
Contributions – employer - 1,760,809 (1,760,809)
Contributions – state - 288,411 (288,411)
Contributions – employee - 187,008 (187,008)
Net investment income - 5,236,088 (5,236,088)
Benefit payments, including
refunds of employee contributions (2,138,041) (2,138,041) -
Administrative expenses - (74,185) 74,185
Net changes 2,379,087 5,260,090 (2,881,003)
Balances at September 30, 2025
(Measurement Date of 9/30/2024) $ 35,123,438 $ 31,244,091 $ 3,879,347
As of the measurement date, the Plan’s fiduciary net position as a percentage of the total pension liability
was 88.96%.
Sensitivity of the Net Pension Liability to changes in the Discount Rate
Current Discount
1% Decrease Rate 1% Increase
6.00% 7.00% 8.00%
City's net pension liability $ 8,382,887 $ 3,879,347 $ 179,205
Pension Plan Fiduciary Net Position
Detailed information about the pension Plan's fiduciary net position is available in a separately issued Plan
financial report. A separate audited financial report of the Plan is not available.
54
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Pension Expense and Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources Related to Pensions – PORF
For the year ended September 30, 2025, the City recognized actuarial pension expense of $1,098,157.
On September 30, 2025, the City reported deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of
resources related to pensions from the following sources:
Deferred Deferred
Outflows of Inflows of
Resources Resources
City and State contributions subsequent to
measurement date $ 1,809,215 $ -
Net difference between projected and actual earnings
on pension plan investments - 1,586,162
Differences between expected and actual experience 1,000,302 657,886
Total $ 2,809,517 $ 2,244,048
Deferred outflows of resources related to pensions of $1,809,215 resulting from the City and State’s
contributions subsequent to the measurement date will be recognized as a reduction of the net pension
liability in the year ending September 30, 2026. Other amounts reported as deferred outflows of resources
and deferred inflows of resources related to pensions will be recognized in pension expense as follows:
Year ended September 30:
2025 $ (331,112)
2026 298,287
2027 (527,647)
2028 (683,274)
$ (1,243,746)
Plan Description – Firefighters’ Retirement Fund (FRF)
Plan Administration
The Plan is administered by the Firefighters’ Retirement Board of Trustees (Fire Board) comprised of:
a. Two members of the fund elected by a majority of the membership,
b. Two City residents appointed by the City Council,
c. Fifth member elected by other four and appointed by City Council as a ministerial duty.
Each person employed by the City’s fire department as a full-time firefighter becomes a member of the
plan as a condition of this employment. All firefighters are therefore eligible for plan benefits as provided
for in the plan document and by applicable law.
55
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Plan Membership as of October 1, 2023:
Inactive Plan Members or Beneficiaries Currently Receiving Benefits 29
Inactive Plan Members Entitled to But Not Yet Receiving Benefits 14
Active Plan Members 42
85
Benefits Provided
The plan provides retirement, disability and death benefits. A member may retire at age 45 with 10 years
of credited service (early retirement) or at age 55 and 10 years of credited service or 25 years of credited
service regardless of age (normal retirement). Benefits become 100% vested upon completion of 10 years
of credit service. The plan provides a retirement benefit which is 3.25% of average final compensation
times credited service with maximum of 100% of current compensation. Benefits are reduced 0.25% for
each month prior to the normal retirement date. Varied benefits exist for disability and pre-retirement death.
Benefits for service retirees are adjusted for a 3% cost of living increase on the January 1 following the
later of age 58 or the date of retirement.
Contributions
Contributions to the Plan are established based on an actuarially determined rate recommended by an
independent actuary. For the year ended September 30, 2025, the participants’ contribution rate was 8.0%
of payroll. The State of Florida was required to contribute 8.8% of payroll and the City was required to
contribute the difference between the actuarially determined rate and the contribution rate of the
participants and the State of Florida. For the year ended September 30, 2025, the City was required to
contribute 46.5% of payroll.
Net Pension Liability – FRF
The measurement date is September 30, 2024. The measurement period for the pension expense was
October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. The reporting period is October 1, 2024 through September 30,
2025. The City’s net pension liability was measured as of September 30, 2024. The total pension liability
used to calculate the net pension liability was determined as of that date.
Actuarial Assumptions
The total pension liability was determined by an actuarial valuation as of October 1, 2023, updated to
September 30, 2024, using the following actuarial assumptions:
Inflation 2.50%
Salary increases Service based
Discount rate 7.00%
Investment rate of return 7.00%
Mortality rates for healthy lives were obtained from the PubS.H-2010 table and were projected
generationally with Scale MP-2018 with the following adjustments:
Males – (Below Median) for Employees and Healthy Retirees set forward one-year
Females – (Below Median) for Employees and Healthy Retirees set forward one-year
56
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Mortality rates for disabled lives were obtained from the PubH-2010 table and were projected
generationally with Scale MP-2018 with the following adjustments:
Males – 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
Females – 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
The above mortality assumption rates were mandated by Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida. This
mandate requires the use of assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The above rates
are those outlined in Milliman’s July 1, 2021, FRS valuation report for special risk employees, with
appropriate adjustments made based on plan demographics.
The most recent actuarial experience study used to review the other significant assumptions was dated
June 8, 2022.
The long-term expected rate of return on pension plan investments was determined using a building-block
method in which best-estimate ranges of expected future real rates of return (expected returns, net of
pension plan investment expenses and inflation) are developed for each major asset class. These ranges
are combined to produce the long-term expected rate of return by weighting the expected future real rates
of return by the target asset allocation percentage and by adding expected inflation. For 2024, the inflation
rate assumption of the investment advisor was 2.50%.
Best estimates of arithmetic real rates of return for each major asset class included in the pension plan's
target asset allocation as of the September 30, 2024, measurement date are summarized in the table
below:
Long Term Expected
Asset Class Target Allocation Real Rate of Return
Domestic equity 42.50% 7.50%
International equity 15.00% 8.50%
Broad market fixed income 17.50% 2.50%
Fixed income (non-core) 2.50% 2.50%
Global fixed income 2.50% 3.50%
Real estate 10.00% 4.50%
Infrastructure 10.00% 4.50%
Total 100.00%
Discount Rate
The discount rate used to measure the total pension liability was 7.00%. The projection of cash flows used
to determine the discount rate assumed that plan member contributions will be made at the current
contribution rate and that sponsor contributions will be made at rates equal to the difference between
actuarially determined contribution rates and the member rate. Based on those assumptions, the pension
plan's fiduciary net position was projected to be available to make all projected future benefit payments of
current plan members. Therefore, the long-term expected rate of return on pension plan investments was
applied to all periods of projected benefit payments to determine the total pension liability.
57
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Changes in Net Pension Liability – FRF
Increase (Decrease)
Total Pension Plan Fiduciary Net Pension
Liability Net Position Liability
(a) (b) (a) – (b)
Balances at September 30, 2024
(Valuation Date of 10/01/2023) $ 35,603,888 $ 22,824,393 $ 12,779,495
Changes:
Service cost 763,298 - 763,298
Interest 2,484,595 - 2,484,595
Share plan allocation 58,611 - 58,611
Differences between expected and
actual experience 70,616 - 70,616
Contributions – employer - 1,630,438 (1,630,438)
Contributions – state - 333,611 (333,611)
Contributions – employee - 243,145 (243,145)
Net investment income - 4,748,767 (4,748,767)
Benefit payments, including
refunds of employee contributions (1,745,932) (1,745,932) -
Administrative expenses - (80,823) 80,823
Net changes 1,631,188 5,129,206 (3,498,018)
Balances at September 30, 2025
(Measurement Date of 9/30/2024) $ 37,235,076 $ 27,953,599 $ 9,281,477
As of the measurement date, the Plan’s fiduciary net position as a percentage of the total pension liability
was 75.07%.
Sensitivity of the Net Pension Liability to changes in the Discount Rate
Current Discount
1% Decrease Rate 1% Increase
6.00% 7.00% 8.00%
City's net pension liability $ 14,245,665 $ 9,281,477 $ 5,234,060
Pension Plan Fiduciary Net Position
Detailed information about the pension Plan's fiduciary net position is available in a separately issued Plan
financial report. A separate audited financial report of the Plan is not available.
58
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Pension Expense and Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources Related to Pensions – FRF
For the year ended September 30, 2025, the City recognized actuarial pension expense of $1,595,076.
On September 30, 2025, the City reported deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of
resources related to pensions from the following sources:
Deferred Deferred
Outflows of Inflows of
Resources Resources
City and State contributions subsequent to
measurement date $ 2,003,479 $ -
Net difference between projected and actual earnings
on pension plan investments - 1,345,311
Changes of assumptions 193,549 -
Differences between expected and actual experience 448,559 67,035
Total $ 2,645,587 $ 1,412,346
Deferred outflows of resources related to pensions of $2,003,479 resulting from the City and State’s
contributions subsequent to the measurement date will be recognized as a reduction of the net pension
liability in the year ending September 30, 2026. Other amounts reported as deferred outflows of resources
and deferred inflows of resources related to pensions will be recognized in pension expense as follows:
Year ended September 30:
2026 $ 185,461
2027 444,405
2028 (772,555)
2029 (627,549)
$ (770,238)
Pension Expense
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, the City recognized an aggregate pension expense of
$2,864,181 on all defined benefit pension plans.
59
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Fund Financial Statements
The following are the financial statements for the individual pension trust funds (GERF, PORF and FRF)
as of and for the year ended September 30, 2025:
COMBINING STATEMENT OF PLAN NET POSITION
Pension Trust Funds
General Police
Employees' Officers' Firefighters' Total Pension
Retirement Retirement Retirement Trust Funds
ASSETS
Accounts receivable $ 23,497 $ 31,101 $ 40,360 $ 94,958
Investments, at market
Money-market funds 1,005,147 851,902 574,318 2,431,367
U.S. Government and Agency
obligations - 5,530,054 4,956,388 10,486,442
Corporate obligations - 331,884 315,554 647,438
Mutual and exchange-traded funds 52,158,865 23,338,001 20,405,410 95,902,276
Infrastructure investment funds 2,909,020 1,610,956 2,998,577 7,518,553
Real estate investment funds 4,127,222 2,507,292 2,237,029 8,871,543
Total investments, at market 60,200,254 34,170,089 31,487,276 125,857,619
TOTAL ASSETS 60,223,751 34,201,190 31,535,424 125,960,365
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 63,251 171,843 125,500 360,594
NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR
PENSIONS $ 60,160,500 $ 34,029,347 $ 31,409,924 $ 125,599,771
60
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
COMBINING STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PLAN NET POSITION
Pension Trust Funds
General Police
Employees' Officers' Firefighters' Total Pension
Retirement Retirement Retirement Trust Funds
ADDITIONS
Contributions
Employer $ 228,642 $ 1,502,419 $ 1,646,848 $ 3,377,909
Plan members 71,535 195,826 234,103 501,464
State of Florida - 306,796 356,631 663,427
Total contributions 300,177 2,005,041 2,237,582 4,542,800
Investment income 7,176,538 3,284,140 3,188,872 13,649,550
Less investment expense (72,089) (63,285) (75,305) (210,679)
Net investment income 7,104,449 3,220,855 3,113,567 13,438,871
Miscellaneous revenue 888 2,274 - 3,162
TOTAL ADDITIONS 7,405,514 5,228,170 5,351,149 17,984,833
DEDUCTIONS
Benefits and refunds paid
Retirement payments 3,663,813 2,004,775 1,607,706 7,276,294
Disability payments 33,583 156,874 5,894 196,351
Other - 98,548 65,852 164,400
Total benefits and refunds paid 3,697,396 2,260,197 1,679,452 7,637,045
Administrative expenses
Legal 13,399 9,925 11,307 34,631
Contractual 89,355 88,683 97,440 275,478
Other 42,432 29,758 34,009 106,199
Total administrative expenses 145,186 128,366 142,756 416,308
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS 3,842,582 2,388,563 1,822,208 8,053,353
INCREASE IN PLAN NET POSITION 3,562,932 2,839,607 3,528,941 9,931,480
NET POSITION RESTRICED
FOR PENSIONS
Beginning of year 56,597,568 31,189,740 27,880,983 115,668,291
End of year $ 60,160,500 $ 34,029,347 $ 31,409,924 $ 125,599,771
61
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
9. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION PLAN
City of Fort Walton Beach Defined Contribution Plan
In December 2009, City Council closed the General Employees’ Defined Benefit Plan. All general, full-
time employees hired on or after January 1, 2010, are members of the Defined Contribution Retirement
Plan (the Plan). The Plan is a money purchase defined contribution retirement plan administered by ICMA
Retirement Corporation and Mission Square Retirement, with the City serving as trustee. All funds are
held in the ICMA Retirement Corporation Governmental Money Purchase Plan & Trust in the name of
each participant. The City finance director serves as the coordinator for the Plan. The Plan requires a 5%
payroll contribution by the employee with a 5% employer (City) match. Employees can increase their
contribution; however, only an additional 2½% is eligible for City match. Members of the General
Employees’ Defined Benefit Pension Plan, who were not fully or partially vested at the time the Plan was
opened, were permitted to transfer their contributions to the Plan as a one-time, irrevocable election. The
Plan participants individually select and make changes in funding options, which are made available by
the independent plan administrator. Since participants select the investment fund or funds in which their
deferred compensation accounts are invested, the city has no liability for investment losses.
The authority for establishing and amending the Plan’s provisions lies with the City Council. The City
Council also has the authority for amending contribution requirements. Contributions made to the Plan by
the employees and by the City were $449,161 and $450,996, respectively, for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2025. The City’s contributions vest 20% each year beginning after one year of employment.
Participants are fully vested after 5 years of service.
10. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
The City offers employees a deferred compensation plan created in accordance with Internal Revenue
Code Section 457 (the Plan). The Plan is a tax-deferred supplemental retirement program that allows City
employees to contribute a portion of their salary, before federal income taxes, to a retirement account.
The assets are held in trust for the employees’ benefit. The Plan participants individually select and make
changes in funding options, which are made available by the independent plan administrator. Since
participants select the investment fund or funds in which their deferred compensation accounts are
invested, the City has no liability for investment losses. The City’s fiduciary responsibility is to administer
the Plan properly and to assure the investment alternatives made available are reasonable.
Contributions made to the Plan by the employees and by the City were $119,353 and $44,269,
respectively, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Assets of the Plan have a fair value of
$3,295,088, as of September 30, 2025.
62
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
11. OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (OPEB)
Plan Description
The Fort Walton Beach’s Retiree Health Care Plan (the Plan) is a single employer defined benefit
postemployment health care plan that covers eligible retired employees of the City. The Plan, which is
administered by the City, allows employees who retire and meet retirement eligibility requirements under
one of the City’s retirement plans to continue medical, dental, and life insurance coverage as a participant
in the City’s plan.
Plan Membership as of September 30, 2024:
Inactive Plan Members or Beneficiaries Current Receiving Benefits 113
Inactive Plan Members Entitled to But Not Yet Receiving Benefits -
Active Plan Members 254
367
Benefits Provided
The benefits provided are the same as those provided for active employees. Spouses and dependents of
eligible retirees are also eligible for medical coverage. All employees of the City are eligible to receive
postemployment health care benefits.
Contributions
Retirees participating in the group insurance plans offered by the City are required to contribute 100% of
the active premiums. In future years, contributions are assumed to increase at the same rate as premiums.
Total OPEB Liability
The City’s total OPEB liability was measured as of September 30, 2024. The total OPEB liability was
determined by an actuarial valuation. The measurement period for OPEB expense was October 1, 2023
to September 30, 2024. The reporting period is October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.
Actuarial Assumptions
The total OPEB liability was determined by an actuarial valuation as of September 30, 2024, using the
following actuarial assumptions:
Inflation 2.50%
Salary Increases Service based
Discount Rate 4.06%
Initial Trend Rate 6.75%
Ultimate Trend Rate 4.00%
Years to Ultimate 50
For general employees, mortality rates were based on the Pub-2010 mortality tables with fully generational
improvement using Scale MP-2021. For female lives, the headcount-weighted PubG-2010 female
employee table was used. For male lives, the headcount-weighted PubG-2010 male below median income
employee table, set back one year, was used. For disabled female lives, 100% of the Disabled Female
table was used, set forward three years. For disabled male lives, 100% of the Disabled Male table was
used, set forward three years.
63
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
For police and fire employees, mortality rates were also based on the Pub-2010 mortality tables with fully
generational improvement using Scale MP-2021. For both males and females, the PubS.H-2010 below
median income employee table, set forward one year, was used. For both disabled males and females,
the 80% PubG.H-2010 and 20%PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees was used.
Discount Rate
Given the City’s decision not to fund the program, all future benefit payments were discounted using a
high-quality municipal bond rate of 4.06%. The high-quality municipal bond rate was based on the week
closest but not later than the measurement date of the Bond Buyer 20-Bond Index as published by the
Federal Reserve. The 20-Bond Index consists of 20 general obligation bonds that mature in 20 years. The
average rating of the 20 bonds is roughly equivalent to Moody's “Aa2” rating and S&P's “AA” rating.
Changes in Total OPEB Liability
Increase (Decrease)
Total OPEB Plan Fiduciary Total OPEB
Liability Net Position Liability
(a) (b) (a) – (b)
Balances at September 30, 2024 $ 4,919,554 $ - $ 4,919,554
Changes for the year:
Service cost 270,609 - 270,609
Interest 247,233 - 247,233
Differences between expected and
actual experience (656,654) - (656,654)
Changes of assumptions 235,921 - 235,921
Contributions – employer - 232,826 (232,826)
Benefit payments (229,736) (229,736) -
Administrative expense - (3,090) 3,090
Net changes (132,627) - (132,627)
Reporting period ending
September 30, 2025 $ 4,786,927 $ - $ 4,786,927
Sensitivity of the Total OPEB Liability to Changes in the Discount Rate
Current
1% Decrease Discount Rate 1% Increase
3.06% 4.06% 5.06%
Total OPEB liability $ 5,543,570 $ 4,786,927 $ 4,178,433
64
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Sensitivity of the Total OPEB Liability to Changes in the Healthcare Trend Rates
Healthcare Cost
1% Decrease Trend Rates 1% Increase
3.00%-5.75% 4.00%-6.75% 5.00%-7.75%
Total OPEB liability $ 4,230,615 $ 4,786,927 $ 5,485,663
OPEB Plan Fiduciary Net Position
The plan is unfunded, so the OPEB plan’s fiduciary net position is $0. There are no OPEB assets
accumulated in a GASB compliant trust to pay for related plan benefits.
OPEB Expense and Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources Related to OPEB
For the year ended September 30, 2025, the City recognized OPEB expense of $147,500. On September
30, 2025, the City reported deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources related to
OPEB from the following sources:
Deferred Deferred
Outflows of Inflows of
Resources Resources
Differences between expected and actual experience $ - $ 1,321,211
Changes of assumptions 559,791 1,107,593
Employer contributions subsequent to the
measurement date 220,067 -
Total $ 779,858 $ 2,428,804
Deferred outflows of resources related to OPEB of $220,067 resulting from the City’s contributions
subsequent to the measurement date will be recognized as a reduction of the total OPEB liability in the
year ending September 30, 2026.
Other amounts reported as deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources related to
OPEB will be recognized in OPEB expense as follows:
Year ended September 30:
2026 $ (343,990)
2027 (502,308)
2028 (446,570)
2029 (446,570)
2030 (69,471)
Thereafter (60,104)
$ (1,869,013)
65
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
12. UNEARNED REVENUES
The composition of unearned revenues as of September 30, 2025, was as follows:
General Utilities
Fund Fund Totals
Unredeemed gift cards $ 37,891 $ - $ 37,891
Charges for services paid in advance - 52,974 52,974
$ 37,891 $ 52,974 $ 90,865
13. LONG-TERM DEBT
Changes in Long-Term Debt Liabilities
The table that follows summarizes changes in long-term liabilities of the City for the year ended September
30, 2025.
Beginning Reductions / Ending Due Within
Balance Additions Adjustments Balance One Year
Governmental activities
Direct placements:
Capital Improvement Revenue Note,
Series 2013 $ 1,966,584 $ - $ (259,906) $ 1,706,678 $ 267,883
Capital Improvement Revenue Note,
Series 2013A 4,356,831 - (440,326) 3,916,505 452,171
Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds,
Series 2018 10,520,145 - (547,078) 9,973,067 568,032
Direct borrowings:
Golf Course Irrigation System Revenue
Note, 2021 614,211 - (304,693) 309,518 309,518
Financing contract - fitness equipment 8,424 - (8,424) - -
Financing contract - police equipment 214,361 - (71,454) 142,907 71,454
Financing contract - driving range equipment - 242,000 (4,033) 237,967 48,400
Lease obligations 421,986 320,094 (148,007) 594,073 156,282
Subscription liabilities 1,298,973 1,183,284 (677,271) 1,804,986 808,970
(1)
Compensated absences 2,294,535 - (16,818) 2,277,717 569,429
Total governmental activities $ 21,696,050 $ 1,745,378 $ (2,478,010) $ 20,963,418 $ 3,252,139
66
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Beginning Ending Due Within
Balance Additions Reductions Balance One Year
Business-type activities
Direct placements:
Utility System Revenue Refunding
Note, Series 2015 $ 5,185,000 $ - $ (512,000) $ 4,673,000 $ 527,000
Direct borrowings:
State Revolving Fund Loan, 2015 8,941,531 - (777,151) 8,164,380 791,988
Lease obligations 102,468 - (66,651) 35,817 35,010
Subscription liabilities - 244,428 (64,590) 179,838 38,211
(1)
Compensated absences 471,890 20,740 - 492,630 123,158
Total business-type activities $ 14,700,889 $ 265,168 $ (1,420,392) $ 13,545,665 $ 1,515,367
(1)
Additions and reductions are reported on a net basis for compensated absences. Beginning balances have been
restated to reflect the change in accounting principle described in Note 20.
Description of Long-Term Debt Outstanding
Governmental Activities – Direct Placements
$4,470,610 City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Capital Improvement Refunding Revenue Note, Series
2013, 2.30% interest due semiannually and principal due annually ranging from $187,659 to $299,010
through 2031. Available non-ad valorem revenues are pledged for payment of the note. Proceeds were
used for refunding Series 2001 revenue bonds for construction of certain capital improvements.
$8,500,000 City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Capital Improvement Revenue Note, Series 2013A, 2.69%
interest due semiannually and principal due annually ranging from $326,969 to $464,334 through 2027
with a balloon payment of $3,000,000 due in 2028. Budgeted and appropriated half-cent sales tax is
pledged for payment of the note. Proceeds were used to finance the construction of the City's new
recreational complex along with the purchase of a bucket truck and a grounds sweeper for City's municipal
golf course.
$12,520,000 City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2018,
bearing interest at 3.83%, due in semiannual payments of principal and interest ranging from $11,583 to
$1,019,479 through 2038. Available non-ad valorem revenues are pledged for payment of the bond.
Proceeds were used to finance the construction of a new field office complex on Hollywood Blvd.
In the event of default (non-payment), the lender may declare all outstanding payments of principal and
interest on the debt to be immediately due and payable for all the direct placement issuances discussed
above. Furthermore, these direct placement issuances do not contain any subjective acceleration clauses.
Governmental Activities – Direct Borrowings
$1,500,000 golf course revenue note payable, 2021, due in monthly installments of $26,013 through
October 2026, which includes principal and interest at 1.55%. The note is payable from pledged revenues
of the golf course with any shortfalls funded by legally available non-ad valorem revenues. Proceeds were
used for golf course repairs and renovations. In the event of default (non-payment), the lender may declare
all outstanding payments of principal and interest on the debt to be immediately due and payable. This
note does not contain any subjective acceleration clauses.
67
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
$75,135 fitness equipment contract, 2020, due in monthly installments of $1,430 through March 2025,
which included principal and interest at 6.34%. The financing contract was fully repaid as of September
30, 2025.
$304,825 police equipment financing contract, 2023, due in annual installments of $71,454 through March
2027. The City has calculated imputed interest on the contract, but it has not been recorded as the imputed
amount was determined to be immaterial to the City’s financial statements. In the event of default (non-
payment), the lender may repossess the financed equipment. The agreement does not contain any
subjective acceleration clauses.
$242,000 golf driving range equipment financing contract, 2025, due in monthly installments of $4,033
through August 2030. The City has calculated imputed interest on the contract, but it has not been
recorded as the imputed amount was determined to be immaterial to the City’s financial statements. In the
event of default (non-payment), the lender may repossess the financed equipment. The agreement does
not contain any subjective acceleration clauses.
The City has acquired the right to use two parking lots, golf carts, utility carts, commercial mowers, and
related ancillary equipment through leases with various unrelated parties. Under the provisions of GASB
Statement No. 87, the City is a lessee under two real property leases and nine equipment leases for its
governmental activities. The City’s lease liability is measured at the present value of lease payments
expected to be remitted during the lease term, including options reasonably certain to be exercised. The
leases require annual base payments ranging from $2,448 to $132,750. The remaining lease terms range
from 1 to 20 years, and the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the lease payments range
from 4.63% to 18.80%. In circumstances in which the rate implicit in the lease cannot be determined, the
City uses a discount rate of 4.63%, which is the City’s estimated incremental borrowing rate. The carrying
value of the right-of-use assets and the related accumulated amortization can be found in Note 6.
In the event of default (non-payment), the lender may declare all unpaid principal to be immediately due
and payable or repossess the leased equipment. These agreements do not contain any subjective
acceleration clauses.
The City has entered into seven subscription-based information technology arrangements with various
software vendors for its governmental activities. The City’s subscription liability is measured using the
present value of subscription payments expected to be remitted to the vendors during the subscription
terms, including options reasonably certain to be exercised. The agreements require annual base
subscription payments ranging from $35,000 to $250,961. The remaining subscription terms range from
1 to 5 years, and the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the subscription payments range
from 2.36% to 4.63%. In circumstances in which the rate implicit in the agreement cannot be determined,
the City uses a discount rate of 4.63%, which is the City’s estimated incremental borrowing rate for similar
assets. The carrying value of the related subscription assets can be found in Note 6. In the event of default,
the lenders may revoke the City’s licenses to use the underlying software. These agreements do not
contain any subjective acceleration clauses.
68
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Business-Type Activities – Direct Placements
$8,794,000 Utility System Revenue Refunding Note, Series 2015, due in annual installments of $407,000
to $645,000 beginning July 2017 through July 2033, with interest only semi-annual payments from January
2016 through January 2017; stated interest at 2.92%. Net revenues derived by the City from the utility
operations are pledged for the payment of the note. Proceeds used to refinance and refund the Utility
System Revenue Bonds, Series 2005, which was for water system and wastewater system improvements.
In the event of default (non-payment), the lender may declare all outstanding payments of principal and
interest on the debt to be immediately due and payable. This note does not contain any subjective
acceleration clauses.
Business-Type Activities – Direct Borrowings
$15,637,939 State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Revolving Loan Fund; semiannual
payments of $471,683 including interest at 1.90% beginning August 2015, through February 2035.
Proceeds used for force main replacement, storage tank construction and pump station upgrades. In the
event of default (non-payment), the lender may notify financial market credit rating agencies, file suit for
past due amounts, and accelerate repayment of unpaid principal to as much as 1.667 times the financing
rate. This loan does not contain any subjective acceleration clauses.
The City has acquired the right to use two loaders and two excavators through leases with various
unrelated parties. The City is a lessee under four equipment leases for its business-type activities. The
City’s lease liability is measured at the present value of lease payments expected to be remitted during
the lease term, including options reasonably certain to be exercised. The leases require annual base
payments ranging from $7,466 to $10,244. The remaining lease terms range from 0 to 2 years, and the
discount rate used to calculate the present value of the lease payments is 4.63%, which is the City’s
estimated incremental borrowing rate for similar assets. The carrying value of the right-of-use assets and
the related accumulated amortization can be found in Note 6. In the event of default (non-payment), the
lender may declare all unpaid principal to be immediately due and payable or repossess the leased
equipment. These agreements do not contain any subjective acceleration clauses.
The City has entered into two subscription-based information technology arrangements with software
vendors for its business-type activities. The City’s subscription liability is measured using the present value
of subscription payments expected to be remitted to the vendors during the subscription terms, including
options reasonably certain to be exercised. The agreements require annual base subscription payments
ranging from $26,285 to $43,141. The remaining subscription terms range from 2 to 5 years, and the
discount rate used to calculate the present value of the subscription payments range from 3.41% to 4.63%.
In circumstances in which the rate implicit in the agreement cannot be determined, the City uses a discount
rate of 4.63%, which is the City’s estimated incremental borrowing rate for similar assets. The carrying
value of the related subscription assets can be found in Note 6. In the event of default, the lenders may
revoke the City’s licenses to use the underlying software. These agreements do not contain any subjective
acceleration clauses.
69
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Annual Requirements to Amortize Debt Outstanding
The annual requirements to amortize all debt outstanding except compensated absences as of September
30, 2025, was as follows:
Governmental Activities:
Year Ending Revenue Bonds and Notes Financing Contracts
September 30 Principal Interest Principal Interest
2026 $ 1,597,604 $ 529,215 $ 119,854 $ -
2027 1,329,416 486,495 119,853 -
2028 3,894,503 439,084 48,400 -
2029 924,195 334,442 48,400 -
2030 1,054,180 303,456 44,367 -
2031-2035 4,559,598 996,289 - -
2036-2038 2,546,272 181,729 - -
Total $ 15,905,768 $ 3,270,710 $ 380,874 $ -
Year Ending Lease Obligations Subscription Liabilities
September 30 Principal Interest Principal Interest
2026 $ 156,282 $ 56,122 $ 808,970 $ 56,216
2027 172,700 32,158 443,962 28,267
2028 46,854 14,627 257,078 13,086
2029 10,920 13,244 263,328 6,836
2030 8,401 12,719 31,648 435
2031-2035 50,838 54,762 - -
2036-2040 69,430 36,170
2041-2045 78,648 11,112 - -
Total $ 594,073 $ 230,914 $ 1,804,986 $ 104,840
70
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Business-Type Activities:
Year Ending Revenue Note State Revolving Fund Loan
September 30 Principal Interest Principal Interest
2026 $ 527,000 $ 136,452 $ 791,988 $ 151,379
2027 542,000 121,063 807,107 136,260
2028 558,000 105,237 822,515 120,852
2029 575,000 88,943 838,217 105,150
2030 591,000 72,153 854,219 89,148
2031-2035 1,880,000 110,843 4,050,334 194,816
Total $ 4,673,000 $ 634,691 $ 8,164,380 $ 797,605
Year Ending Lease Obligations Subscription Liabilities
September 30 Principal Interest Principal Interest
2026 $ 35,010 $ 590 $ 38,211 $ 3,674
2027 807 3 63,525 5,901
2028 - - 24,382 2,663
2029 - - 26,005 1,832
2030 - - 27,715 945
2031-2035 - - - -
Total $ 35,817 $ 593 $ 179,838 $ 15,015
14. COMMENTS REQUIRED BY THE BOND AND ORDINANCES
Capital Improvement Refunding Revenue Note, Series 2013
1. The balance sheet and statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance of the
Debt Service Fund are shown in the financial section of the report.
2. The City is required to establish sinking fund amounts sufficient to pay all principal and interest
becoming due on the notes on the next semiannual payment date. The sinking fund was not
required to be funded at September 30, 2025.
3. The City is not aware of any instances of noncompliance with the debt covenants.
71
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Capital Improvement Revenue Note, Series 2013A
1. The balance sheet and statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance of the
Debt Service Fund are shown in the financial section of the report.
2. The City is required to establish sinking fund amounts sufficient to pay all principal and interest
becoming due on the notes on the next semiannual payment date. The sinking fund was not
required to be funded at September 30, 2025.
3. The City is not aware of any instances of noncompliance with the debt covenants.
Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2018
1. The balance sheet and statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance of the
Debt Service Fund are shown in the financial section of the report.
2. The City is required to establish sinking fund amounts sufficient to pay all principal and interest
becoming due on the notes on the next semiannual payment date. The sinking fund was not
required to be funded at September 30, 2025.
3. The City is not aware of any instances of noncompliance with the debt covenants.
Golf Course Revenue Note, Series 2021
1. The balance sheet and statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance of the
Debt Service Fund are shown in the financial section of the report.
2. The City is required to establish sinking fund amounts sufficient to pay all principal and interest
becoming due on the notes on the next semiannual payment date. The sinking fund was not
required to be funded at September 30, 2025.
3. The City is not aware of any instances of noncompliance with the debt covenants.
Utility System Revenue Refunding Note, Series 2015
1. The statement of net position and statement of revenues, expenses, and changes in net position
of the Utility Fund are shown in the financial section of the report.
2. Net revenues pledged consist of gross revenues less costs of operation and maintenance. The
net revenues pledged in fiscal year 2025 were approximately $3,688,294.
3. The debt issued refunded Series 2005 bond used for system improvements.
4. The term of the pledge commitment ends in January 2033.
5. The pledged revenues needed to meet the rate covenants in fiscal year 2025 were $829,253. The
covenant is based upon 125% of the annual debt service requirement.
6. The pledged revenues exceeded the debt service requirements by $2,859,041 in fiscal year 2025.
7. The City is not aware of any instances of noncompliance with the debt covenants.
72
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
15. INTERFUND RECEIVABLES, PAYABLES AND TRANSFERS
The composition of interfund balances as of September 30, 2025, was as follows:
Receivable Fund Payable Fund Amount
General Community Development Block Grant $ 14,899
General Fund receivables from the Community Development Block Grant Fund are the result of eliminating
a temporary deficit cash balance.
The composition of interfund transfers for the year ended September 30, 2025, was as follows:
Transfers In
Beal Memorial
Cemetery Perpetual
Transfers Out General Fund Care Fund Total
General Fund $ - $ 30,248 $ 30,248
Utilities Fund 1,338,201 - 1,338,201
Sanitation Fund 427,937 - 427,937
Stormwater Fund 219,437 - 219,437
$ 1,985,575 $ 30,248 $ 2,015,823
The transfers out of the General Fund of $30,248 to the Beal Memorial Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund
were for permanent maintenance.
Transfers into the General Fund of $1,985,575 consist of franchise fees, compensation for heavy trucks
wear and tear on roadways, and a portion of the debt service for the new field office complex from the
enterprise funds representing their portion of use of the facility.
73
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
16. GOVERNMENTAL FUND BALANCES
At September 30, 2025, the City's governmental fund balances were classified as follows:
Community Beal Memorial Other Total
Redevelopment Cemetery Governmental Governmental
General Fund Agency Perpetual Care Funds Funds
Nonspendable
Inventory $ 556,226 $ - $ - $ - $ 556,226
Restricted for
Public safety - - - 1,855,189 1,855,189
Transportation 77,143 - - - 77,143
Redevelopment projects - 4,789,364 - - 4,789,364
Library capital projects 145,302 - - - 145,302
Capital facilities and equipment 7,275,884 - - - 7,275,884
Other purposes 11,417 - - - 11,417
Total restricted 7,509,746 4,789,364 - 1,855,189 14,154,299
Committed
Affordable housing projects 1,376,292 - - - 1,376,292
Cemetery maintenance 23,838 - 5,197,923 - 5,221,761
Tree mitigation program 146,700 - - - 146,700
Natural disaster recovery 9,667,241 - - - 9,667,241
Total committed 11,214,071 - 5,197,923 - 16,411,994
Assigned for
Capital expenditures 702,232 - - - 702,232
FY26 appropriations 4,212,565 - - - 4,212,565
Long-term debt 850,000 - - - 850,000
Other purposes 265,673 - - - 265,673
Total assigned 6,030,470 - - - 6,030,470
Unassigned 2,549,485 - - (8,782) 2,540,703
$ 27,859,998 $ 4,789,364 $ 5,197,923 $ 1,846,407 $ 39,693,692
The Community Development Block Grant special revenue fund had a deficit fund balance at year end.
The deficit will be eliminated by future transfers from other funds and by future grant funding.
17. ENCUMBRANCES
The amount of encumbrances outstanding as of September 30, 2025, were as follows:
Governmental Funds –
General Fund $ 2,395,402
Community Redevelopment Agency Fund 2,216,516
Other Governmental Funds 2,936
$ 4,614,854
74
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Encumbrances at year end do not constitute expenditures or liabilities; therefore, they are not reflected in
the statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balances. Encumbrances are reported as
assigned fund balance in the General Fund, unless included in a more restrictive classification (i.e.,
restricted or committed). Encumbrances are not reported as assignments of fund balance in the special
revenue funds as those resources are restricted or committed for specific purposes.
18. RISK MANAGEMENT
The City is exposed to various risks of loss related to torts; theft of, damage to, and destruction of assets;
errors and omissions; injuries to employees; employee medical benefits and natural disasters. The City
purchases insurance through commercial carriers. Insurance coverage for workers’ compensation,
liability, casualty, inland marine, flood, police accidental death, public officials’ bonds, fiduciary and fuel
tanks were purchased from several commercial carriers during the year ended September 30, 2025. There
has been no significant reduction in insurance coverage from the prior year. Commercial insurance
coverage has been sufficient to cover all claims made in the prior three fiscal years.
19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Grants
Amounts received or receivable from grant agencies are subject to audit and adjustment by grantor
agencies. Any disallowed claims, including amounts already collected, may constitute a liability of the
applicable funds. The amount, if any, of expenditures which may be disallowed by the grantor cannot be
determined at this time, although the City expects such amount, if any, to be immaterial.
Workforce Housing Incentive Fund
In May 2022, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing the Workforce Housing Incentive Fund,
which shall be managed by the City’s Growth Management Department. The funds will be used in
accordance with guidelines established in section 4.10 of the City’s Land Development Code and any
requests for funding will be made in the form of development agreements and require City Council
approval. Requests for funding may either be approved as up-front payments or as reimbursements once
projects are completed. The City Council shall determine the manner of payments to recipients. The
resolution sets forth an initial commitment of $1,500,000 from the City’s General Fund resources to the
Workforce Housing Incentive Fund. As of September 30, 2025, the remaining funding in the Workforce
Housing Incentive Fund was $1,376,292.
Wastewater Service Interlocal Agreement with Okaloosa County
In 2009, the City adopted the Wastewater Service Interlocal Agreement with Okaloosa County
(Agreement). The Agreement outlines a long–term association with Okaloosa County Water & Sewer for
the treatment of the City’s influent wastewater flow at a set percentage of the County’s base sewer rate
plus a locked-in annual rate escalator. The agreement provides other ancillary benefits to the City such as
the provision of “no cost” tertiary treated effluent for use as irrigation water at the City’s’ 36-hole municipal
Golf Club. The Agreement is effective for 30 years and can be automatically extended for up to two
additional terms for a period of ten years for each extension term.
On a monthly basis, the County bills the City at a rate equal to $2.77 per each 1,000 gallons of wastewater
flow. Additionally, the City pays to the County the Sewer Readiness to Serve Fee, which is equal to $5,507
per month. Annually, the rate per thousand and the Readiness to Serve Fee increases by 3%. Fees paid
for wastewater treatment to Okaloosa County, Florida during the year ended September 30, 2025, were
$3,370,200.
75
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
The minimum commitment by the City under the Agreement is as follows:
Fiscal Year Ending September 30
2026 $ 71,334
2027 73,474
2028 75,678
2029 77,948
2030 80,286
2031 through 2035 439,039
2036 through 2039 401,067
Total $ 1,218,826
Water Tank Management Contract
In February 2025, the Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with U.S. Tank, Inc. to
perform maintenance for nine of the City’s water towers and tanks. The contract term is ten years and
requires total payments of $2,174,275, which will be made in annual installments ranging from $18,000 to
$619,500. The contract includes an option to renew for an additional 10-year term at the expiration of the
original term.
20. RESTATEMENT – CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
As discussed in Note 1, the City adopted the provisions of GASBS 101 on October 1, 2024. As a result,
the City restated its September 30, 2024 net position to implement the change in accounting principle. The
financial statement line items affected by the change in accounting principle in the City’s financial
statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2024, were as follows:
Governmental Utilities Sanitation Stormwater Business-Type
Activities Fund Fund Fund Activities
Statement of Net Position
Compensated absences - due within one year
as previously reported $ 268,706 $ 35,193 $ 19,119 $ 4,601 $ 58,913
Implementation of GASB Statement No. 101 304,928 25,957 28,988 4,115 59,060
Compensated absences - due within one year
as restated $ 573,634 $ 61,150 $ 48,107 $ 8,716 $ 117,973
Compensated absences - due in more than one year
as previously reported $ 806,117 $ 105,579 $ 57,356 $ 13,802 $ 176,737
Implementation of GASB Statement No. 101 914,784 77,871 86,963 12,346 177,180
Compensated absences - due in more than one year
as restated $ 1,720,901 $ 183,450 $ 144,319 $ 26,148 $ 353,917
Net position - unrestricted - as previously reported $ 10,115,793 $ 8,951,288 $ 2,827,443 $ 1,475,568 $ 13,254,299
Implementation of GASB Statement No. 101 (1,219,712) (103,828) (115,951) (16,461) (236,240)
Net position - unrestricted - as restated $ 8,896,081 $ 8,847,460 $ 2,711,492 $ 1,459,107 $ 13,018,059
76
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Preston Hood Athletic Complex Expansion Project
In October 2025, the City Council awarded a bid to a commercial contractor to perform construction
services for the Preston Hood Recreation Complex Expansion Project for a contract price of $7,059,313.
The scope of the project includes constructing a new 2,000 square foot recreation operations building, a
restroom facility, various multi-purpose fields, pickleball courts, approximately 200 additional parking
spaces, and all other components necessary to achieve a fully functional recreation complex. The project
is expected to commence after project is fully financed and is expected to be completed in Fall 2026. The
project will primarily be funded by tax-exempt debt financing. The remaining funding will come from the
City’s allocation of tourist development tax proceeds and discretionary sales tax proceeds.
In January 2026, the Council authorized the issuance of a Capital Improvement Revenue Note, Series
2026 in the amount of $7,500,000 to provide funds to finance the expansion to the City’s recreation center
and pay for the costs associated with the issuance of such a note. The revenue note is structured as a
tax-exempt negotiated private placement with a financial institution and bears interest at a rate of 4.08%
per annum. The City closed on the note in January 2026.
Liza Jackson Park Improvements Project
In March 2026, the City Council awarded a bid to a commercial contractor to perform construction services
for the Liza Jackson Park Improvements Project for a contract price of $3,139,270. The scope of the
project includes constructing a new 850 square foot restroom building, stormwater improvements, as well
as the addition of a concrete sidewalk and boat trailer and vehicle parking. The estimated construction
period for the project is six months and is expected to commence in August 2026. The project will primarily
be funded by tax increment revenues of the CRA.
77
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
GENERAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Taxes $ 13,837,646 $ 13,837,646 $ 14,178,604 $ 340,958
Permits and fees 2,366,230 2,366,230 2,440,501 74,271
Intergovernmental 7,762,375 8,127,375 7,287,552 (839,823)
Charges for services 3,912,727 3,920,109 3,784,813 (135,296)
Fines 103,000 103,000 215,982 112,982
Investment income 250,000 250,000 955,643 705,643
Miscellaneous 786,727 855,797 1,339,941 484,144
Total revenues 29,018,705 29,460,157 30,203,036 742,879
EXPENDITURES
Current
General government 8,459,187 8,459,187 6,114,022 2,345,165
Public safety 15,865,620 16,091,490 15,243,357 848,133
Physical environment 297,298 297,298 309,707 (12,409)
Transportation 626,668 991,668 517,572 474,096
Economic environment 35,861 35,861 20,000 15,861
Culture and recreation 5,470,961 5,954,773 5,282,268 672,505
Capital outlay 8,202,528 8,622,037 7,714,822 907,215
Debt service 1,287,899 1,287,899 3,123,800 (1,835,901)
Total expenditures 40,246,022 41,740,213 38,325,548 3,414,665
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF REVENUES
OVER (UNDER) EXPENDITURES (11,227,317) (12,280,056) (8,122,512) 4,157,544
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES (USES)
Sale of general capital assets - - 491,244 491,244
Issuance of leases and financing contracts - - 308,843 308,843
Issuance of subscription liabilities - - 1,183,284 1,183,284
Transfers in 1,140,074 1,140,074 1,985,575 845,501
Transfers out (37,000) (37,000) (30,248) 6,752
Total other financing sources (uses) 1,103,074 1,103,074 3,938,698 2,835,624
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE (10,124,243) (11,176,982) (4,183,814) 6,993,168
FUND BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 10,124,243 11,176,982 32,043,812 20,866,830
FUND BALANCE AT END OF YEAR $ - $ - $ 27,859,998 $ 27,859,998
See notes to the required supplementary information.
78
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Taxes $ 1,530,199 $ 1,530,199 $ 1,530,199 $ -
Intergovernmental 1,354,347 1,354,347 1,357,090 2,743
Investment income - - 47,478 47,478
Miscellaneous - - 152,116 152,116
Total revenues 2,884,546 2,884,546 3,086,883 202,337
EXPENDITURES
Current
Public safety 427,826 427,826 424,586 3,240
Economic environment 1,326,978 1,326,978 933,083 393,895
Capital outlay 3,528,605 8,246,393 2,411,307 5,835,086
Debt service - - 14,060 (14,060)
Total expenditures 5,283,409 10,001,197 3,783,036 6,218,161
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF REVENUES
OVER (UNDER) EXPENDITURES (2,398,863) (7,116,651) (696,153) 6,420,498
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES
Issuance of leases - - 253,251 (253,251)
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE (2,398,863) (7,116,651) (442,902) 6,673,749
FUND BALANCE AT
BEGINNING OF YEAR 2,398,863 7,116,651 5,232,266 (1,884,385)
FUND BALANCE AT END OF YEAR $ - $ - $ 4,789,364 $ 4,789,364
See notes to the required supplementary information.
79
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
BEAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Investment income $ - $ - $ 506,709 $ 506,709
Miscellaneous 300 300 5,767 5,467
Total revenues 300 300 512,476 512,176
EXPENDITURES
Current
Physical environment 25,574 25,574 11,804 13,770
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF REVENUES
OVER (UNDER) EXPENDITURES (25,274) (25,274) 500,672 525,946
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES
Transfers in 32,200 32,200 30,248 (1,952)
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE 6,926 6,926 530,920 523,994
FUND BALANCE AT BEGINNING
OF YEAR - - 4,667,003 4,667,003
FUND BALANCE AT END OF
YEAR $ 6,926 $ 6,926 $ 5,197,923 $ 5,190,997
See notes to the required supplementary information.
80
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE BUDGETARY COMPARISON SCHEDULES
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Budgetary data reflected in the accompanying schedules of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund
balance – budget and actual are established by the following procedures:
Prior to September 1st of each year, proposed budgets are received by the City Council from the City
Manager. These proposed expenditures, along with all estimated receipts, taxes to be levied, and
balances expected to be brought forward are considered by the City Council. The City Council requires
such changes as deemed necessary, sets proposed mileages, and establishes dates for tentative and
final public budget hearings as prescribed by Florida Statutes.
Proposed budgets are advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. Public hearings are
conducted for the purposes of receiving input, responding to complaints, and providing reasons and
explanations for intended actions to all citizens participating.
Prior to October 1st, the budget for all governmental and proprietary funds of the City is legally enacted
through passage of a resolution. Budget amendments are periodically passed via resolutions throughout
the fiscal year. Budgeted beginning fund balance in the accompanying financial statements reflects
planned utilization of prior years' unassigned fund balance to the level required to accomplish current year
objectives.
The level of budgetary control (that is the level at which expenditures cannot legally exceed appropriations)
has been established at the fund level. The City Manager and Finance Director are authorized to transfer
budgeted amounts within departments of a fund and between departments of a fund; however, any
revisions that alter the total expenditures of any fund must be approved by the City Council.
Budget amounts reflected in the financial statements are originally adopted amounts as amended by action
of the City Council by revision of fund totals. All amendments to the originally adopted amounts were made
in a legally permissible manner.
81
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NET PENSION LIABILITY
AND RELATED RATIOS (UNAUDITED)
GENERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT FUND
Reporting Date * 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Total Pension Liability
Service cost $ 245,027 $ 288,828 $ 311,634 $ 330,178 $ 366,197 $ 372,064 $ 446,214 $ 504,055 $ 557,163 $ 569,712
Interest 3,606,688 3,689,920 3,695,597 3,677,931 3,723,744 3,888,510 3,827,379 3,771,606 3,317,396 3,314,990
Differences between expected and
actual experience 380,100 (1,541,794) (614,717) 275,286 60,721 (466,270) (265,877) (404,763) 400,221 (1,074,244)
1
Changes of assumptions - - - 1,521,135 618,633 (768,706) - - 4,485,495 -
Benefit payments, including
refunds of employee contributions (3,644,603) (3,519,769) (3,381,848) (3,366,874) (3,327,697) (3,161,812) (3,157,696) (3,056,444) (2,858,889) (2,676,038)
Net change in total pension liability 587,212 (1,082,815) 10,666 2,437,656 1,441,598 (136,214) 850,020 814,454 5,901,386 134,420
Total pension liability – beginning 53,101,382 54,184,197 54,173,531 51,735,875 50,294,277 50,430,491 49,580,471 48,766,017 42,864,631 42,730,211
Total pension liability – ending (a) 53,688,594 53,101,382 54,184,197 54,173,531 51,735,875 50,294,277 50,430,491 49,580,471 48,766,017 42,864,631
Plan Fiduciary Net Position
Contributions – employer $ 284,704 $ 314,371 $ 580,847 $ 1,024,247 $ 1,419,339 $ 1,751,654 $ 2,006,925 $ 1,254,097 $ 1,280,082 $ 1,355,041
Contributions – member 100,094 107,036 128,595 136,164 147,885 150,018 158,138 171,869 202,268 209,567
Net investment income 10,432,744 4,095,879 (8,789,933) 10,772,183 4,869,412 1,788,274 4,975,937 4,967,834 4,031,981 (4,390)
Benefit payments, including
refunds of employee contributions (3,644,603) (3,519,769) (3,381,848) (3,366,874) (3,327,697) (3,161,812) (3,157,696) (3,056,444) (2,858,889) (2,676,038)
Administrative expenses (55,871) (50,580) (41,837) (48,305) (50,568) (40,421) (49,518) (42,201) (35,704) (39,535)
Net change in plan fiduciary net position 7,117,068 946,937 (11,504,176) 8,517,415 3,058,371 487,713 3,933,786 3,295,155 2,619,738 (1,155,355)
Plan fiduciary net position – beginning 49,441,828 48,494,891 59,999,067 51,481,652 48,423,281 47,935,568 44,001,782 40,706,627 38,086,889 39,242,244
Plan fiduciary net position – ending (b) 56,558,896 49,441,828 48,494,891 59,999,067 51,481,652 48,423,281 47,935,568 44,001,782 40,706,627 38,086,889
Net pension liability (asset) – ending (a) – (b) $ (2,870,302) $ 3,659,554 $ 5,689,306 $ (5,825,536) $ 254,223 $ 1,870,996 $ 2,494,923 $ 5,578,689 $ 8,059,390 $ 4,777,742
Plan fiduciary net position as a
percentage of the total pension liability 105.35% 93.11% 89.50% 110.75% 99.51% 96.28% 95.05% 88.75% 83.47% 88.85%
Covered payroll $ 2,001,875 $ 2,140,710 $ 2,571,886 $ 2,723,263 $ 2,957,684 $ 3,000,359 $ 3,162,762 $ 3,437,375 $ 4,045,350 $ 4,191,304
Net pension liability as a
percentage of covered payroll -143.38% 170.95% 221.21% -213.92% 8.60% 62.36% 78.88% 162.30% 199.23% 113.99%
Notes:
1
As a result of Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida, the assumed rates of mortality were changed to the assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System in its July 1, 2021, actuarial valuation for non-
special risk lives, with appropriate risk and collar adjustments made based on plan demographics.
The investment rate of return assumption was lowered from 7.60% to 7.30% for the 2021 reporting date.
The investment rate of return assumption was lowered from 7.30% to 7.00% for the 2022 reporting date.
82
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NET PENSION LIABILITY
AND RELATED RATIOS (UNAUDITED)
POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Reporting Date * 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Total Pension Liability
Service cost $ 902,915 $ 784,364 $ 748,564 $ 699,264 $ 546,326 $ 384,431 $ 395,440 $ 334,061 $ 344,958 $ 336,234
Interest 2,280,478 2,284,699 2,230,909 2,142,668 2,143,525 1,976,534 2,112,261 2,084,744 1,948,181 1,953,123
Change in excess state money - - - - (172,843) 40,065 20,893 8,823 - -
3
Changes of benefit terms - - - - 1,428,025 - - - - -
Differences between expected and
actual experiences 1,333,735 (1,184,359) (262,825) 476,947 (211,485) 283,813 (833,418) (343,066) (425,107) (659,966)
2
Changes of assumptions - - - 682,631 46,143 584,615 (251,695) - 1,633,122 -
Benefit payments, including refunds
of employee contributions (2,138,041) (1,989,100) (1,978,930) (1,900,983) (1,868,482) (1,851,074) (1,764,575) (1,821,727) (1,744,710) (1,655,069)
Net change in total pension liability 2,379,087 (104,396) 737,718 2,100,527 1,911,209 1,418,384 (321,094) 262,835 1,756,444 (25,678)
Total pension liability – beginning 32,744,351 32,848,747 32,111,029 30,010,502 28,099,293 26,680,909 27,002,003 26,739,168 24,982,724 25,008,402
Total pension liability – ending (a) 35,123,438 32,744,351 32,848,747 32,111,029 30,010,502 28,099,293 26,680,909 27,002,003 26,739,168 24,982,724
Plan Fiduciary Net Position
1
Contributions – employer $ 1,760,809 $ 1,426,703 $ 1,314,250 $ 1,232,753 $ 806,946 $ 732,187 $ 830,613 $ 569,215 $ 577,564 $ 628,975
Contributions – state 288,411 267,370 236,730 223,280 217,473 221,641 202,468 190,399 181,303 175,025
Contributions – member 187,008 176,319 151,799 147,074 132,013 113,192 112,112 104,557 102,214 101,886
Net investment income 5,236,088 2,537,574 (3,684,483) 4,499,980 2,166,715 1,085,486 1,609,609 2,036,244 1,698,093 (538,198)
Benefit payments, including refunds
of employee contributions (2,138,041) (1,989,100) (1,978,930) (1,900,983) (1,868,482) (1,851,074) (1,764,575) (1,821,727) (1,744,710) (1,655,069)
Administrative expenses (74,185) (89,557) (63,679) (52,862) (57,304) (64,930) (54,400) (39,184) (44,882) (25,084)
Net change in plan fiduciary net position 5,260,090 2,329,309 (4,024,313) 4,149,242 1,397,361 236,502 935,827 1,039,504 769,582 (1,312,465)
Plan fiduciary net position – beginning 25,984,001 23,654,692 27,679,005 23,529,763 22,132,402 21,895,900 20,960,073 19,920,569 19,150,987 20,463,452
Plan fiduciary net position – ending (b) 31,244,091 25,984,001 23,654,692 27,679,005 23,529,763 22,132,402 21,895,900 20,960,073 19,920,569 19,150,987
Net pension liability – ending (a) – (b) $ 3,879,347 $ 6,760,350 $ 9,194,055 $ 4,432,024 $ 6,480,739 $ 5,966,891 $ 4,785,009 $ 6,041,930 $ 6,818,599 $ 5,831,737
Plan fiduciary net position as a
percentage of the total pension liability 88.96% 79.35% 72.01% 86.20% 78.41% 78.76% 82.07% 77.62% 74.50% 76.66%
Covered payroll $ 3,740,162 $ 3,526,388 $ 3,035,976 $ 2,941,480 $ 2,640,254 $ 2,263,844 $ 2,242,245 $ 2,091,146 $ 2,073,208 $ 2,037,716
Net pension liability as a
percentage of covered payroll 103.72% 191.71% 302.84% 150.67% 245.46% 263.57% 213.40% 288.93% 328.89% 286.19%
See notes to schedule on the next page.
83
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NET PENSION LIABILITY
AND RELATED RATIOS (UNAUDITED) – CONTINUED
POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Notes:
1 Adjusted for actual contributions made.
2 As a result of Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida, the assumed rates of mortality were changed to the assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System
in its July 1, 2021, actuarial valuation for special risk lives, with appropriate risk and collar adjustments made based on plan demographics.
For the 2021 reporting date, changes of assumptions resulted from the changes in benefit terms discussed below; the retirement assumptions were updated
to assume 25% probability of retirement between ages 52-54 with less than 25 year of service, as well as 50% probability of retirement upon completion
of 25 years of service, and a 100% probability of retirement upon completion of 26 or more years of service.
The investment rate of return assumption was lowered from 7.40% to 7.20% for the 2021 reporting date.
The investment rate of return assumption was lowered from 7.20% to 7.00% for the 2022 reporting date.
3 For the 2021 reporting date, the plan was amended by Ordinance 2025 to provide the following benefit changes: 1) requirements for normal retirement
eligibility to be the earlier of age 52 and 10 years of service or 25 years of service (regardless of age); 2) reduces the early retirement reduction from 6.00%
to 3.00% per year for each year prior to normal retirement; and 3) increases the maximum benefit accrual rate from 2.75% to 3.00% of average final
compensation per year for each year of service, up to a maximum of 75% of average final compensation.
84
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NET PENSION LIABILITY
AND RELATED RATIOS (UNAUDITED)
FIREFIGHTERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Reporting Date * 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Total Pension Liability
Service cost $ 763,298 $ 784,668 $ 768,244 $ 645,171 $ 546,149 $ 513,466 $ 477,930 $ 494,032 $ 453,506 $ 478,365
Interest 2,484,595 2,387,337 2,229,203 2,115,954 2,063,083 1,978,589 1,864,720 1,830,663 1,645,954 1,554,072
Share plan allocation and excess funds 58,611 64,159 - - - - - - - -
2
Changes of benefit terms - - - - - (2,402) - - - 804,097
Differences between expected
and actual experiences 70,616 (111,725) 790,469 397,047 231,328 98,199 513,043 (199,349) 261,007 (224,382)
Contributions – buy back - 13,921 22,695 - - - - 32,155 - 72,413
1
Changes of assumptions - - 103,378 760,987 66,865 655,972 601,424 258,300 1,243,794 -
Benefit payments, including refunds
of employee contributions (1,745,932) (1,709,241) (1,633,458) (1,536,000) (1,459,394) (1,407,554) (1,318,156) (1,434,474) (1,237,389) (1,140,432)
Net change in total pension liability 1,631,188 1,429,119 2,280,531 2,383,159 1,448,031 1,836,270 2,138,961 981,327 2,366,872 1,544,133
Total pension liability – beginning 35,603,888 34,174,769 31,894,238 29,511,079 28,063,048 26,226,778 24,087,817 23,106,490 20,739,618 19,195,485
Total pension liability – ending (a) 37,235,076 35,603,888 34,174,769 31,894,238 29,511,079 28,063,048 26,226,778 24,087,817 23,106,490 20,739,618
Plan Fiduciary Net Position
Contributions – employer $ 1,630,438 $ 1,431,211 $ 1,390,710 $ 1,390,526 $ 1,231,466 $ 1,016,560 $ 1,089,746 $ 794,144 $ 744,019 $ 672,369
Contributions – state 333,611 339,159 256,006 235,435 209,723 219,901 195,017 204,568 201,904 205,007
Contributions – member 243,145 249,844 233,380 226,099 204,865 189,154 182,127 173,480 164,876 150,357
Contributions – buy back - 13,921 22,695 - - - - 32,155 - 72,413
Net investment income 4,748,767 2,141,044 (3,520,580) 3,874,693 1,922,011 564,309 1,430,717 1,401,324 969,107 15,563
Benefit payments, including refunds
of employee contributions (1,745,932) (1,709,241) (1,633,458) (1,536,000) (1,459,394) (1,407,554) (1,318,156) (1,434,474) (1,237,389) (1,140,432)
Administrative expenses (80,823) (85,891) (64,300) (44,086) (55,253) (66,388) (67,773) (28,449) (43,625) (47,088)
Net change in plan fiduciary net position 5,129,206 2,380,047 (3,315,547) 4,146,667 2,053,418 515,982 1,511,678 1,142,748 798,892 (71,811)
Plan fiduciary net position – beginning 22,824,393 20,444,346 23,759,893 19,613,226 17,559,808 17,043,826 15,532,148 14,389,400 13,590,508 13,662,319
Plan fiduciary net position – ending (b) 27,953,599 22,824,393 20,444,346 23,759,893 19,613,226 17,559,808 17,043,826 15,532,148 14,389,400 13,590,508
Net pension liability – ending (a) – (b) $ 9,281,477 $ 12,779,495 $ 13,730,423 $ 8,134,345 $ 9,897,853 $ 10,503,240 $ 9,182,952 $ 8,555,669 $ 8,717,090 $ 7,149,110
Plan fiduciary net position as a
percentage of the total pension liability 75.07% 64.11% 59.82% 74.50% 66.46% 62.57% 64.99% 64.48% 62.27% 65.53%
Covered payroll $ 3,039,311 $ 3,123,046 $ 2,917,251 $ 2,826,544 $ 2,560,508 $ 2,364,429 $ 2,276,592 $ 2,168,503 $ 2,060,954 $ 2,072,260
Net pension liability as a percentage of
covered payroll 305.38% 409.20% 470.66% 287.78% 386.56% 444.22% 403.36% 394.54% 422.96% 344.99%
See notes to schedule on the next page.
85
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NET PENSION LIABILITY
AND RELATED RATIOS (UNAUDITED) – CONTINUED
FIREFIGHTERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Notes:
1 The investment rate of return assumption was lowered from 7.20% to 7.00% for the 2022 reporting date.
The investment rate of return assumption was lowered from 7.40% to 7.20% for the 2021 reporting date.
As a result of Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida, the assumed rates of mortality were changed to the assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System
in its July 1, 2021, actuarial valuation for special risk lives, with appropriate risk and collar adjustments made based on plan demographics.
2 Effective July 1, 2019, Chapter 118.1816, Florida Statutes states that a death or disability for a firefighter due to the diagnosis of cancer or circumstances
that arise out of the treatment of cancer will be treated as duty-related.
86
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN TOTAL OPEB LIABILITY
AND RELATED RATIOS (UNAUDITED)
FORT WALTON BEACH RETIREE HEALTH CARE PLAN
Reporting Date * 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Total OPEB Liability
Service cost $ 270,609 $ 263,908 $ 399,330 $ 410,684 $ 230,648 $ 190,791 $ 91,714 $ 105,139 $ 85,100
Interest 247,233 231,897 176,997 155,984 228,430 235,597 205,213 187,954 195,814
Differences between expected and actual experience (656,654) - (978,450) - (1,195,507) - (494,909) - -
1
Changes of assumptions 235,921 (65,573) (1,661,244) (334,427) 1,699,860 519,859 288,811 (639,051) 702,672
Benefit payments (229,736) (214,206) (233,797) (218,502) (250,893) (232,308) (151,409) (139,227) (139,227)
Net change in total OPEB liability (132,627) 216,026 (2,297,164) 13,739 712,538 713,939 (60,580) (485,185) 844,359
Total OPEB liability - beginning 4,919,554 4,703,528 7,000,692 6,986,953 6,274,415 5,560,476 5,621,056 6,106,241 5,261,882
Total OPEB liability - ending (a) 4,786,927 4,919,554 4,703,528 7,000,692 6,986,953 6,274,415 5,560,476 5,621,056 6,106,241
Plan Fiduciary Net Position
Contributions - employer 232,826 224,306 236,797 228,302 253,893 242,108 154,409 148,727 141,727
3
Benefit payments (229,736) (214,206) (233,797) (218,502) (250,893) (232,308) (151,409) (139,227) (139,227)
Administrative expenses (3,090) (10,100) (3,000) (9,800) (3,000) (9,800) (3,000) (9,500) (2,500)
Net change in plan fiduciary net position - - - - - - - - -
Plan fiduciary net position - beginning - - - - - - - - -
Plan fiduciary net position - ending (b) - - - - - - - - -
City's total OPEB liability - ending (a) - (b) $ 4,786,927 $ 4,919,554 $ 4,703,528 $ 7,000,692 $ 6,986,953 $ 6,274,415 $ 5,560,476 $ 5,621,056 $ 6,106,241
Plan fiduciary net position as a percentage of
total OPEB liability ** 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Covered-employee payroll (projected) $ 15,504,186 $ 14,407,454 $ 13,747,571 $ 12,653,509 $ 12,085,491 $ 11,392,366 $ 10,891,364 $ 7,927,323 $ 7,520,263
City's total OPEB liability as a percentage of
covered-employee payroll 30.88% 34.15% 34.21% 55.33% 57.81% 55.08% 51.05% 70.91% 81.20%
* This schedule is intended to show information for ten years. Additional years will be displayed as they become available.
** There are no OPEB plan assets accumulated in a GASB compliant trust to pay for related plan benefits.
Notes:
1
As a result of Chapter 2015-157, Laws of Florida, the assumed rates of mortality were changed to the assumptions used by the Florida Retirement System to match the pension plan
assumptions. Changes of assumptions and other inputs also reflect the changes in the discount rate each period. The following are the discount rates used in each period:
2025: 4.06% 2022: 2.43% 2019: 4.18%
2024: 4.87% 2021: 2.14% 2018: 3.64%
2023: 4.77% 2020: 3.58% 2017: 3.06%
In addition, there were changes to actuarial assumptions for updated health care costs and premiums, health care trend rates, mortality rates, retirement rates, and disability rates.
87
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED)
LAST TEN FISCAL YEARS
Reporting Year 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
General Employees' Retirement Fund
Actuarially determined contribution $ 228,642 $ 242,563 $ 289,455 $ 580,847 $ 1,024,247 $ 1,419,339 $ 1,602,192 $ 1,771,147 $ 1,120,584 $ 1,197,424
Contributions in relation to the
actuarially determined contributions 228,642 284,704 314,371 580,847 1,024,247 1,419,339 1,751,654 2,006,925 1,254,097 1,280,082
Contribution deficiency (excess) $ - $ (42,141) $ (24,916) $ - $ - $ - $ (149,462) $ (235,778) $ (133,513) $ (82,658)
Covered payroll $ 1,449,235 $ 2,001,875 $ 2,140,710 $ 2,571,886 $ 2,723,263 $ 2,957,684 $ 3,000,359 $ 3,162,762 $ 3,437,375 $ 4,045,350
Contributions as a percentage
of covered payroll 15.78% 14.22% 14.69% 22.58% 37.61% 47.99% 58.38% 63.45% 36.48% 32.33%
Police Officers' Retirement Fund
Actuarially determined contribution $ 1,711,524 $ 1,578,349 $ 1,643,297 $ 1,429,945 $ 1,456,033 $ 1,024,419 $ 837,623 $ 928,289 $ 650,347 $ 709,037
Contributions in relation to the
actuarially determined contributions 1,809,215 2,049,220 1,694,073 1,550,980 1,456,033 1,024,419 913,763 1,033,081 750,791 790,573
Contribution deficiency (excess) $ (97,691) $ (470,871) $ (50,776) $ (121,035) $ - $ - $ (76,140) $ (104,792) $ (100,444) $ (81,536)
Covered payroll $ 3,916,530 $ 3,740,162 $ 3,526,388 $ 3,035,976 $ 2,941,480 $ 2,640,254 $ 2,263,844 $ 2,242,245 $ 2,091,146 $ 2,073,208
Contributions as a percentage
of covered payroll 46.19% 54.79% 48.04% 51.09% 49.50% 38.80% 40.36% 46.07% 35.90% 38.13%
Firefighters' Retirement Fund
Actuarially determined contribution $ 1,618,256 $ 1,604,756 $ 1,627,107 $ 1,546,144 $ 1,534,814 $ 1,293,057 $ 1,127,832 $ 1,138,295 $ 899,929 $ 816,138
Contributions in relation to the
actuarially determined contributions 1,921,848 1,905,438 1,706,211 1,646,716 1,625,961 1,441,189 1,236,461 1,284,763 998,712 945,923
Contribution deficiency (excess) $ (303,592) $ (300,682) $ (79,104) $ (100,572) $ (91,147) $ (148,132) $ (108,629) $ (146,468) $ (98,783) $ (129,785)
Covered payroll $ 2,926,322 $ 3,039,311 $ 3,123,046 $ 2,917,251 $ 2,826,544 $ 2,560,508 $ 2,364,429 $ 2,276,592 $ 2,168,503 $ 2,060,954
Contributions as a percentage
of covered payroll 65.67% 62.69% 54.63% 56.45% 57.52% 56.29% 52.29% 56.43% 46.06% 45.90%
See notes to the schedule of contributions.
88
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENT RETURNS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Measurement Period Ended: 9/30/2024 9/30/2023 9/30/2022 9/30/2021 9/30/2020 9/30/2019 9/30/2018 9/30/2017 9/30/2016 9/30/2015
General Employees' Retirement Fund
Annual Money-Weighted Rate of Return
Net of Investment Expense 21.76% 8.68% -14.99% 21.35% 10.25% 3.78% 11.43% 12.45% 10.78% -0.01%
Police Officers' Retirement Fund
Annual Money-Weighted Rate of Return
Net of Investment Expense 20.26% 10.85% -13.47% 19.34% 10.01% 5.08% 7.82% 10.52% 9.12% -2.69%
Firefighters' Retirement Fund
Annual Money-Weighted Rate of Return
Net of Investment Expense 20.82% 10.50% -14.84% 19.75% 11.01% 3.33% 9.24% 9.88% 7.25% 0.12%
89
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED)
GENERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT FUND
Valuation Date: October 1, 2023
Notes: Actuarially determined contribution rates are calculated as of October 1, which is two
years prior to the end of the fiscal year in which contributions are reported.
Methods and Assumptions Used to Determine Contribution Rates:
Funding method: Entry-Age Actuarial Cost Method
Mortality rates: Projected generationally with Scale MP-2018
Healthy lives:
Female: PubG.H-2010 for Employees
Male: PubG.H-2010 (Below Median) for Employees, set back one year
Disabled lives:
Female: PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees, set forward three years
Male: PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees, set forward three years
Interest rate: 7.00% per year, compounded annually, net of investment related expenses
Inflation: 2.50%
Termination rates: Age-based rates. Sample rates as follows:
Sample Ages Probability
25 7.724%
30 7.397%
35 6.858%
40 6.113%
45 5.163%
50 4.316%
55 4.371%
60 5.631%
Disability rates: Age-based rates. Sample rates as follows:
Sample Ages Probability
20 0.07%
30 0.11%
40 0.19%
50 0.51%
60 1.66%
90
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED) – CONTINUED
GENERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT FUND
Salary increases: Age-based increase table, as follows:
Age Increase*
Under 25 6.50%
25-34 5.50%
35-44 4.50%
45+ 3.50%
*Increase shown is inclusive of a 3.00% wage inflationary assumption.
Retirement age: 100% probability of retirement upon attaining age 62 and ten years of service, along
with probabilities of retiring with a subsidized benefit prior to age 62 at the following
rates:
Age Probability
52 4.218%
53 4.249%
54 4.293%
55 4.371%
56 4.500%
57 4.688%
58 4.941%
59 5.258%
60 5.631%
61 6.053%
Cost of living increase: 2.50% per year beginning at retirement
Payroll growth: None (closed plan) for purposes of amortizing the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued
Liability.
Actuarial asset All assets are valued at fair value with an adjustment made to uniformly spread
method: actuarial investment gains and losses (as measured by actual fair value
investment return against expected fair value investment return) over a five-year
period.
91
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED)
POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Valuation Date: October 1, 2023
Notes: Actuarially determined contribution rates are calculated as of October 1, which is two
years prior to the end of the fiscal year in which contributions are reported.
Methods and Assumptions Used to Determine Contribution Rates:
Funding method: Entry-Age Normal Actuarial Cost Method
Mortality rates: Projected generationally with Scale MP-2018
Healthy lives:
Female: PubS.H-2010 (Below Median) for Employees, set forward one year
Male: PubS.H-2010 (Below Median) for Employees, set forward one year
Disabled lives:
Female: 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
Male: 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
Interest rate: 7.00% per year, compounded annually, net of investment related expenses
Retirement age: Member Age Retirement Probability
50-51 5.0%
52-54 25.0%
55-56 10.0%
57 33.3%
58-59 50.0%
60+ 100.0%
In addition to the above table, 100% are assumed to retire upon completion of 25
years of service at the age of 60.
Early retirement: Service Years Retirement Probability
25 50.0%
26+ 100.0%
Cost-of-living increase: 2.50% per year beginning at retirement
Payroll growth: None
Actuarial asset All assets are valued at fair value with an adjustment made to uniformly spread
method: actuarial investment gains and losses (as measured by actual fair value investment
return against expected fair value investment return) over a five-year period.
92
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED) – CONTINUED
POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Marital assumption: 100% of active members are assumed to be married, with husbands 3 years older
than wives.
Salary increases: Service Years Assumption
Less than 1 10.0%
1-4 6.5%
5-9 6.0%
10-14 5.5%
15-19 4.5%
20+ 3.5%
In addition to the table on the previous page, projected salary at retirement is
increased 20.0% to account for non-regular compensation.
Disability rate:
% Becoming
Disabled During the
Age Year
20 0.28%
25 0.30%
30 0.36%
35 0.46%
40 0.60%
45 1.02%
50 2.00%
55 3.10%
60 4.18%
It is assumed that 75% of disablements are service-related.
Termination rate: Service Years Termination Probability
Less than 2 15.0%
2-4 12.0%
5-6 10.0%
7-9 2.0%
10 8.0%
11 7.5%
12 7.0%
13 6.5%
14-19 6.0%
20+ 2.0%
93
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED)
FIREFIGHTERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Valuation Date: October 1, 2023
Notes: Actuarially determined contribution rates are calculated as of October 1, which is two
years prior to the end of the fiscal year in which contributions are reported.
Methods and Assumptions Used to Determine Contribution Rates:
Actuarial cost method: Entry Age Normal Actuarial Cost Method
Mortality rates: Projected generationally with Scale MP-2018
Healthy lives:
Female: PubS.H-2010 (Below Median) for Employees,set forward one year.
Male: PubS.H-2010 (Below Median) for Employees,set forward one year
Disabled lives:
Female: 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
Male: 80% PubG.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees / 20% PubS.H-2010 for Disabled Retirees
Interest rate: 7.00% per year compounded annually, net of investment related expenses
Disability rate: See table below; it is assumed that 75% of disablements and active Member deaths
are service related.
Termination rate: See table below; assumed rates were approved in conjunction with an actuarial
experience study dated June 2022.
Salary increases: See table below; assumed rates were approved in conjunction with an actuarial
experience study dated June 2022.
Cost-of-living increase: 3.00% per year beginning at age 58
Payroll growth: 1.49% per year, in compliance with Part VII of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes
Actuarial asset All assets are valued at fair value with an adjustment made to uniformly spread
method: actuarial investment gains and losses (as measured by actual fair value investment
return against expected fair value investment return) over a five-year period.
Salary increases: Service Years Increase
0 14.00%
1-9 6.00%
10-14 5.50%
15+ 4.75%
94
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS (UNAUDITED) – CONTINUED
FIREFIGHTERS’ RETIREMENT FUND
Disability rate: Age Disability Rate
20 0.14%
25 0.15%
30 0.18%
35 0.23%
40 0.30%
45 0.51%
50 1.00%
55 1.55%
60+ 2.09%
Termination rate: Service Years Termination Rate
0-2 12.00%
3-9 9.00%
10+ 3.00%
Retirement age: Member Age Retirement Probability
45 - 54 3.00%
55+ 100.00%
In addition to the above table, 100% are assumed to retire upon completion of 25
years of service. The assumed rates in this table were approved in conjunction with
an actuarial experience study dated June 2022.
95
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
COMBINING AND INDIVIDUAL FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
NONMAJOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Special Revenue Funds – used to account for and report the proceeds of specific revenue sources
that are restricted or committed to expenditure for specified purposes other than debt service or
capital projects.
Law Enforcement Trust Fund
This fund is used to account for the revenues received from grants or forfeitures that are legally
restricted for specific purposes, such as crime prevention, community policing, and drug education.
Funds cannot be used for normal operating expenditures.
Law Enforcement Trust Training Fund
This fund is used to account for the revenues received from traffic fines that are legally restricted for
specific purposes, such as school crossing guards and police officer training.
Florida Building Code Fund
This fund is used to account for the revenues from building permits and inspections, which are legally
restricted for enforcing the Florida Building Code, as defined by State statutes.
Community Development Block Grant Fund
This fund is used to account for grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development that are legally restricted for specific purposes, primarily assistance to benefit low- and
moderate-income families.
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NON-MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
COMBINING BALANCE SHEET
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Special Revenue Funds
Law Total
Law Enforcement Florida Community Nonmajor
Enforcement Trust Building Development Governmental
Trust Training Code Block Grant Funds
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 282,286 $ 40,867 $ 1,674,743 $ - $ 1,997,896
Due from other governments 1,778 - - 6,117 7,895
TOTAL ASSETS $ 284,064 $ 40,867 $ 1,674,743 $ 6,117 $ 2,005,791
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ - $ - $ 6,656 $ - $ 6,656
Accrued liabilities 111,143 - 26,686 - 137,829
Due to other funds - - - 14,899 14,899
Total liabilities 111,143 - 33,342 14,899 159,384
FUND BALANCE
Restricted 172,921 40,867 1,641,401 - 1,855,189
Unassigned - - - (8,782) (8,782)
Total fund balance 172,921 40,867 1,641,401 (8,782) 1,846,407
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
FUND BALANCE $ 284,064 $ 40,867 $ 1,674,743 $ 6,117 $ 2,005,791
96
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
NON-MAJOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
COMBINING STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Special Revenue Funds
(Formerly
Law Non-Major) Total
Law Enforcement Florida Community Beal Memorial Nonmajor
Enforcement Trust Building Development Cemetery Governmental
Trust Training Code Block Grant Perpetual Care Funds
REVENUES
Permits and fees $ - $ - $ 631,908 $ - $ - $ 631,908
Intergovernmental 1,778 - - 121,027 - 122,805
Fines 17,533 3,651 - - - 21,184
Miscellaneous 7,573 1,179 48,865 - - 57,617
Total revenues 26,884 4,830 680,773 121,027 - 833,514
EXPENDITURES
Current
Public safety 10,026 - 577,455 - - 587,481
Economic environment - - - 121,027 - 121,027
Total expenditures 10,026 - 577,455 121,027 - 708,508
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE 16,858 4,830 103,318 - - 125,006
FUND BALANCE (DEFICIT) - AS
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED 156,063 36,037 1,538,083 (8,782) 4,667,003 6,388,404
ADJUSTMENT - CHANGE FROM NONMAJOR
TO MAJOR FUND - - - - (4,667,003) (4,667,003)
FUND BALANCE (DEFICIT) - BEGINNING OF YEAR 156,063 36,037 1,538,083 (8,782) - 1,721,401
FUND BALANCE (DEFICIT) AT END OF YEAR $ 172,921 $ 40,867 $ 1,641,401 $ (8,782) $ - $ 1,846,407
97
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Intergovernmental $ - $ 4,766 $ 1,778 $ (2,988)
Fines - - 17,533 17,533
Miscellaneous 300 300 7,573 7,273
Total revenues 300 5,066 26,884 21,818
EXPENDITURES
Current
Public safety 8,202 25,468 10,026 15,442
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE (7,902) (20,402) 16,858 37,260
FUND BALANCE AT BEGINNING
OF YEAR 7,902 20,402 156,063 135,661
FUND BALANCE AT END OF YEAR $ - $ - $ 172,921 $ 172,921
98
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST TRAINING SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Fines $ 4,000 $ 4,000 $ 3,651 $ (349)
Miscellaneous - - 1,179 1,179
Total revenues 4,000 4,000 4,830 830
EXPENDITURES
Current
Public safety 4,000 4,000 - 4,000
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE - - 4,830 4,830
FUND BALANCE AT BEGINNING
OF YEAR - - 36,037 36,037
FUND BALANCE AT END OF YEAR $ - $ - $ 40,867 $ 40,867
99
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
FLORIDA BUILDING CODE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Permits and fees $ 711,000 $ 711,000 $ 631,908 $ (79,092)
Miscellaneous 500 500 48,865 48,365
Total revenues 711,500 711,500 680,773 (30,727)
EXPENDITURES
Current
Public safety 630,742 630,742 577,455 53,287
Capital outlay 2,180 2,180 - 2,180
Total expenditures 632,922 632,922 577,455 55,467
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE 78,578 78,578 103,318 24,740
FUND BALANCE AT BEGINNING
OF YEAR - - 1,538,083 1,538,083
FUND BALANCE AT END OF YEAR $ 78,578 $ 78,578 $ 1,641,401 $ 1,562,823
100
CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE –
BUDGET AND ACTUAL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
Variance with
Final Budget -
Budgeted Amounts Positive
Original Final Actual (Negative)
REVENUES
Intergovernmental $ 134,174 $ 134,174 $ 121,027 $ (13,147)
EXPENDITURES
Current
Economic environment 239,044 239,044 121,027 118,017
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE (104,870) (104,870) - 104,870
FUND BALANCE (DEFICIT) AT
BEGINNING OF YEAR 104,870 104,870 (8,782) (113,652)
FUND BALANCE (DEFICIT) AT
END OF YEAR $ - $ - $ (8,782) $ (8,782)
101
III. STATISTICAL SECTION (UNAUDITED)
This section of the City’s annual comprehensive financial report presents
detailed information as a context for understanding what the information in the
financial statements, and note disclosures say about the City’s overall financial
health.
Financial Trends
These schedules contain trend information to help the reader understand how
the City's financial performance and well-being have changed over time.
Revenue Capacity
These schedules contain information to help the reader assess the City's
most significant local revenue source, the property tax.
Debt Capacity
These schedules present information to help the reader assess the affordability of
the City's current levels of outstanding debt and the City's ability to issue additional
debt in the future.
Demographic and Economic Information
These schedules offer demographic and economic indicators to help the
reader understand the environment within which the City's financial activities take
place.
Operating Information
These schedules contain service and infrastructure data to help the reader
understand how the information in the City's financial report relates to the
services the City provides and the activities it performs.
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from
the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year.
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 1
NET POSITION BY COMPONENT
Last Ten Fiscal Years
(full accrual basis of accounting)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Governmental Activities
Net investment in capital assets $ 27,791,054 $ 27,347,098 $ 29,375,380 $ 28,280,342 $ 28,266,271 $ 28,034,343 $ 28,661,006 $ 29,022,371 $ 35,708,426 $ 40,721,488
Restricted
Debt service 21,156 21,156 26 - 21,156 21,156 21,156 21,156 - -
Redevelopment projects 1,437,363 1,552,484 1,812,525 1,691,456 3,060,014 4,133,412 5,234,216 6,225,881 5,232,266 5,171,206
Pension benefits - - - - - - - - - 268,637
Public safety 536,448 426,892 468,331 673,892 879,583 1,060,646 1,343,836 1,566,532 1,730,183 1,855,189
Other purposes 165,895 93,456 66,707 1,370,446 2,248,298 3,784,023 5,776,594 7,243,110 7,983,383 7,509,746
Unrestricted 2,158,813 (1,447,438) (2,667,720) (377,793) 4,171,642 8,279,303 8,070,651 10,278,765 10,115,793 7,393,334
Total governmental activities net position $ 32,110,729 $ 27,993,648 $ 29,055,249 $ 31,638,343 $ 38,646,964 $ 45,312,883 $ 49,107,459 $ 54,357,815 $ 60,770,051 $ 62,919,600
Business-Type Activities
Net investment in capital assets $ 12,893,855 $ 13,818,340 $ 13,829,575 $ 13,678,160 $ 14,566,978 $ 14,023,752 $ 13,422,691 $ 15,556,733 $ 20,555,468 $ 23,383,823
Restricted
Debt service 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228 157,228
Pension benefits - - - - - - - - - 183,187
System improvements 404,761 452,472 440,212 454,564 465,123 476,154 463,361 434,824 432,439 473,011
Unrestricted 11,118,844 11,731,659 12,252,058 14,010,607 14,639,462 15,561,538 15,699,234 14,439,484 13,254,299 11,842,713
Total business-type activities net position $ 24,574,688 $ 26,159,699 $ 26,679,073 $ 28,300,559 $ 29,828,791 $ 30,218,672 $ 29,742,514 $ 30,588,269 $ 34,399,434 $ 36,039,962
Primary Government
Net investment in capital assets $ 40,684,909 $ 41,165,438 $ 43,204,955 $ 41,958,502 $ 42,833,249 $ 42,058,095 $ 42,083,697 $ 44,579,104 $ 56,263,894 $ 64,105,311
Restricted 2,722,851 2,703,688 2,945,029 4,347,586 6,831,402 9,632,619 12,996,391 15,648,731 15,535,499 15,618,204
Unrestricted 13,277,657 10,284,221 9,584,338 13,632,814 18,811,104 23,840,841 23,769,885 24,718,249 23,370,092 19,236,047
Total primary government net position $ 56,685,417 $ 54,153,347 $ 55,734,322 $ 59,938,902 $ 68,475,755 $ 75,531,555 $ 78,849,973 $ 84,946,084 $ 95,169,485 $ 98,959,562
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules presenting
government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
Note: The amounts reported for the 2023 governmental activities net investment in capital assets has been reduced to reflect a restatement to correct an error.
102
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 2
CHANGES IN NET POSITION
Last Ten Fiscal Years
(full accrual basis of accounting)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Expenses
Governmental activities
General government $ 3,285,039 $ 3,581,072 $ 3,799,439 $ 3,559,619 $ 4,182,204 $ 4,222,810 $ 4,318,011 $ 5,321,980 $ 5,612,265 $ 6,893,053
Public safety 10,172,215 11,507,059 11,420,904 11,159,777 12,040,368 13,746,451 14,020,586 19,077,377 15,594,706 16,698,910
Physical environment 430,490 543,287 505,458 519,126 497,072 547,701 531,268 531,784 425,314 401,575
Transportation 1,494,178 1,536,979 1,401,819 1,406,227 1,268,589 1,253,402 1,401,797 1,385,178 1,318,838 1,004,089
Economic environment 1,540,230 1,591,643 1,174,794 1,412,332 1,317,571 1,131,722 1,194,625 1,217,467 1,463,389 1,275,342
Culture and recreation 5,375,183 5,403,198 5,538,881 5,781,339 5,999,273 5,990,714 6,103,857 6,545,449 6,912,043 6,726,220
Debt service interest 323,639 304,331 291,590 664,131 727,034 700,924 716,930 728,062 705,158 668,906
Total government activities 22,620,974 24,467,569 24,132,885 24,502,551 26,032,111 27,593,724 28,287,074 34,807,297 32,031,713 33,668,095
Business-type activities
Utilities 10,066,769 9,420,248 9,810,437 9,961,949 9,315,619 10,574,909 10,480,961 10,003,984 11,238,837 11,080,697
Sanitation 3,407,992 3,687,087 3,774,624 3,720,984 3,824,136 3,996,753 4,142,106 4,774,632 4,580,016 4,745,877
Stormwater 611,351 681,541 727,282 762,181 764,925 1,040,698 1,035,826 967,922 1,196,475 1,048,423
Total business-type activities 14,086,112 13,788,876 14,312,343 14,445,114 13,904,680 15,612,360 15,658,893 15,746,538 17,015,328 16,874,997
Total primary government expenses $ 36,707,086 $ 38,256,445 $ 38,445,228 $ 38,947,665 $ 39,936,791 $ 43,206,084 $ 43,945,967 $ 50,553,835 $ 49,047,041 $ 50,543,092
Program Revenues
Governmental activities
Charges for services
General government $ 421,503 $ 448,911 $ 434,820 $ 508,494 $ 532,475 $ 550,688 $ 354,235 $ 291,558 $ 394,970 $ 699,179
Public safety 523,163 570,556 532,536 643,944 1,440,937 1,883,415 2,204,959 2,296,942 934,683 900,575
Physical environment 371,205 399,338 387,821 414,695 415,266 724,582 535,838 486,857 422,578 453,875
Transportation 207,860 240,653 246,164 252,418 258,883 270,779 288,888 198,547 214,127 202,017
Economic environment 392,118 12,000 - 21,300 36,701 51,039 46,413 47,806 48,266 51,201
Culture and recreation 1,805,332 1,846,019 2,078,405 2,171,484 2,095,326 2,572,448 2,787,760 3,076,149 3,085,299 3,133,432
Operating grants and contributions 908,595 825,624 706,094 765,032 4,049,001 2,348,391 1,460,346 1,866,820 1,089,161 1,239,109
Capital grants and contributions 802,809 361,641 1,487,587 37,406 232,491 186,874 125,832 1,251,331 789,571 243,432
Total governmental activities program revenues 5,432,585 4,704,742 5,873,427 4,814,773 9,061,080 8,588,216 7,804,271 9,516,010 6,978,655 6,922,820
Business-type activities
Charges for services
Utilities 10,141,724 10,970,823 10,737,496 11,390,289 11,356,045 11,856,685 11,944,833 11,790,008 11,580,108 12,484,176
Sanitation 3,599,838 3,663,445 3,774,519 3,871,204 3,934,207 4,381,765 4,824,130 5,018,548 5,177,268 5,433,078
Stormwater 860,644 917,844 975,805 1,027,310 1,035,033 1,035,527 1,037,228 1,036,590 1,046,679 1,053,819
Capital grants and contributions 533,515 1,314,521 151,049 93,282 211,962 89,963 46,063 122,670 3,721,220 1,082,695
Total business-type activities program revenues 15,135,721 16,866,633 15,638,869 16,382,085 16,537,247 17,363,940 17,852,254 17,967,816 21,525,275 20,053,768
Total primary government program revenues $ 20,568,306 $ 21,571,375 $ 21,512,296 $ 21,196,858 $ 25,598,327 $ 25,952,156 $ 25,656,525 $ 27,483,826 $ 28,503,930 $ 26,976,588
Continued…
103
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 2
CHANGES IN NET POSITION
Last Ten Fiscal Years
(full accrual basis of accounting)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Net (Expense)/Revenue
Governmental activities $ (17,188,389) $ (19,762,827) $ (18,259,458) $ (19,687,778) $ (16,971,031) $ (19,005,508) $ (20,482,803) $ (25,291,287) $ (25,053,058) $ (26,745,275)
Business-type activities 1,049,609 3,077,757 1,326,526 1,936,971 2,632,567 1,751,580 2,193,361 2,221,278 4,509,947 3,178,771
Total primary government $ (16,138,780) $ (16,685,070) $ (16,932,932) $ (17,750,807) $ (14,338,464) $ (17,253,928) $ (18,289,442) $ (23,070,009) $ (20,543,111) $ (23,566,504)
General Revenues and Other Changes in Net Position
Governmental activities
Taxes
Property taxes $ 5,617,998 $ 5,807,598 $ 6,041,303 $ 6,416,668 $ 6,573,751 $ 6,608,861 $ 7,025,573 $ 7,618,352 $ 7,750,534 $ 7,693,921
Sales taxes 2,707,153 2,792,840 2,941,301 4,335,114 4,940,279 6,021,460 6,401,055 6,142,151 6,726,844 5,934,715
Utility service taxes 3,931,939 3,962,859 4,182,026 4,045,085 4,024,523 4,136,505 4,294,415 4,515,669 4,681,431 4,716,511
Tax increments for redevelopment district 1,628,439 1,649,589 1,811,121 1,893,803 2,369,529 2,320,213 2,404,122 2,668,386 2,842,113 2,887,289
Franchise fees 2,202,420 2,034,209 2,131,104 2,084,717 2,070,302 2,146,088 2,355,837 2,415,585 2,385,680 2,387,255
Intergovernmental, unrestricted 910,615 981,613 1,009,901 1,034,884 978,949 1,101,020 1,374,067 1,407,882 1,316,824 1,719,563
Gain on sale of assets 873,101 - - 66,523 158,530 740,344 39,877 2,264,170 139,509 586,414
Miscellaneous 27,976 157,806 93,106 77,264 44,913 93,227 83,470 72,967 29,966 35,815
Investment earnings (losses) 444,972 414,160 263,824 1,225,235 1,071,190 743,927 (1,498,120) 1,638,716 3,743,723 2,167,478
Transfers 755,846 761,739 847,373 1,091,579 1,747,686 1,759,782 1,797,083 1,797,765 1,848,670 1,985,575
Total governmental activities 19,100,459 18,562,413 19,321,059 22,270,872 23,979,652 25,671,427 24,277,379 30,541,643 31,465,294 30,114,536
Business-type activities
Gain on sale of assets 26,093 32,663 14,258 44,914 16,801 260,579 - 50,435 9,371 10,479
Miscellaneous 5,502 27,727 16,575 17,671 1,551 105,520 4,088 1,580 2,366 2,387
Investment earnings (losses) 165,583 85,567 9,388 713,509 624,999 31,984 (876,524) 370,227 1,138,151 670,706
Transfers (755,846) (761,739) (847,373) (1,091,579) (1,747,686) (1,759,782) (1,797,083) (1,797,765) (1,848,670) (1,985,575)
Total business-type activities (558,668) (615,782) (807,152) (315,485) (1,104,335) (1,361,699) (2,669,519) (1,375,523) (698,782) (1,302,003)
Total primary government $ 18,541,791 $ 17,946,631 $ 18,513,907 $ 21,955,387 $ 22,875,317 $ 24,309,728 $ 21,607,860 $ 29,166,120 $ 30,766,512 $ 28,812,533
Change in Net Position
Governmental activities $ 1,912,070 $ (1,200,414) $ 1,061,601 $ 2,583,094 $ 7,008,621 $ 6,665,919 $ 3,794,576 $ 5,250,356 $ 6,412,236 $ 3,369,261
Business-type activities 490,941 2,461,975 519,374 1,621,486 1,528,232 389,881 (476,158) 845,755 3,811,165 1,876,768
Total primary government $ 2,403,011 $ 1,261,561 $ 1,580,975 $ 4,204,580 $ 8,536,853 $ 7,055,800 $ 3,318,418 $ 6,096,111 $ 10,223,401 $ 5,246,029
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules presenting government-
wide information include information beginning in that year.
Note: The gain on sale of assets reported for 2023 governmental activities has been reduced to reflect a restatement to correct an error.
104
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 3
FUND BALANCES - GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
Last Ten Fiscal Years
(modified accrual basis of accounting)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
General Fund
Nonspendable $ 240,865 $ 245,181 $ 250,315 $ 269,837 $ 286,427 $ 259,960 $ 284,342 $ 311,357 $ 391,596 $ 556,226
Restricted 163,817 93,456 66,707 4,497,485 2,248,298 5,712,331 6,164,287 7,243,110 7,983,383 7,509,746
Committed 6,009,523 6,687,557 6,663,230 8,019,062 8,045,739 8,649,189 10,409,244 11,556,463 11,158,869 11,214,071
Assigned 1,198,378 1,891,555 1,913,861 2,341,510 2,184,202 3,908,571 3,096,152 9,590,863 6,849,007 6,030,470
Unassigned 4,356,681 3,561,586 2,282,375 3,291,695 8,218,150 8,845,558 7,300,353 4,983,996 5,660,957 2,549,485
Total general fund $ 11,969,264 $ 12,479,335 $ 11,176,488 $ 18,419,589 $ 20,982,816 $ 27,375,609 $ 27,254,378 $ 33,685,789 $ 32,043,812 $ 27,859,998
All Other Governmental Funds
Nonspendable $ 1,762 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Restricted 1,995,283 2,000,532 2,280,882 2,365,348 3,960,753 5,215,214 6,599,208 7,813,569 6,962,449 6,644,553
Committed 2,467,828 2,739,865 2,974,049 3,120,593 3,451,682 4,154,232 3,435,513 3,814,516 4,667,003 5,197,923
Unassigned - (5,861) (19,270) (31,326) (17,483) (19,782) (19,782) (19,782) (8,782) (8,782)
Total all other governmental funds $ 4,464,873 $ 4,734,536 $ 5,235,661 $ 5,454,615 $ 7,394,952 $ 9,349,664 $ 10,014,939 $ 11,608,303 $ 11,620,670 $ 11,833,694
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules
presenting government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
105
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 4
CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES - GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS
Last Ten Fiscal Years
(modified accrual basis of accounting)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Revenues
Taxes $ 11,941,311 $ 12,220,392 $ 12,741,642 $ 13,101,370 $ 13,441,866 $ 13,705,445 $ 14,378,360 $ 15,344,155 $ 15,754,818 $ 15,708,803
Licenses, permits, and fees 2,623,810 2,514,178 2,586,035 2,659,200 3,475,389 4,102,640 4,471,993 4,722,748 3,232,859 3,072,409
Intergovernmental 4,322,696 4,266,425 4,880,937 5,516,224 9,870,743 9,094,488 8,760,009 10,169,568 9,532,937 8,767,447
Charges for services 2,402,801 2,488,384 2,739,021 2,868,887 2,757,191 3,461,193 3,628,960 3,743,367 3,717,283 3,784,813
Fines and forfeits 121,513 127,406 101,378 94,578 93,827 77,476 117,291 237,061 106,837 237,166
Investment income (losses) - - - - - - (1,939,598) 1,102,761 2,482,001 1,509,830
Miscellaneous 935,821 1,042,958 819,264 1,770,325 1,561,538 1,358,329 910,757 1,008,493 1,830,590 1,555,441
Total Revenues 22,347,952 22,659,743 23,868,277 26,010,584 31,200,554 31,799,571 30,327,772 36,328,153 36,657,325 34,635,909
Expenditures
General governmental services 3,017,374 3,228,767 3,631,410 3,377,241 3,620,756 3,632,924 3,737,220 4,407,665 4,953,525 6,114,022
Public safety 9,053,178 9,913,344 10,584,430 10,157,745 11,255,650 12,988,274 14,189,424 14,867,714 15,860,992 16,255,424
Physical environment 337,831 372,552 425,472 439,446 440,769 491,526 484,405 445,217 351,655 321,511
Transportation 852,602 890,762 762,058 824,349 723,669 741,097 890,333 938,417 755,644 517,572
Economic environment 1,432,788 1,468,393 1,045,687 1,282,063 1,182,887 945,657 1,006,864 1,026,839 1,294,069 1,074,110
Culture and recreation 4,196,979 4,170,787 4,477,927 4,685,690 4,929,243 4,924,696 4,880,270 5,170,888 5,582,110 5,282,268
Capital outlay 2,105,686 1,598,285 3,574,823 10,498,028 4,546,491 2,823,402 3,827,661 6,018,951 8,694,881 10,126,129
Debt service
Principal 673,851 682,229 718,320 698,381 1,084,666 1,203,619 1,871,562 2,488,022 2,471,280 2,461,192
Interest and other costs 336,835 316,629 297,245 547,165 734,680 708,959 725,016 682,916 726,419 676,668
Total expenditures 22,007,124 22,641,748 25,517,372 32,510,108 28,518,811 28,460,154 31,612,755 36,046,629 40,690,575 42,828,896
Excess (deficiency) of revenues over (under) expenditures 340,828 17,995 (1,649,095) (6,499,524) 2,681,743 3,339,417 (1,284,983) 281,524 (4,033,250) (8,192,987)
Other Financing Sources (Uses)
Proceeds from financing contracts - - - 350,000 74,135 - - 304,825 - 242,000
Proceeds from issuance of leases - - - - - - 31,944 - 428,276 320,094
Proceeds from issuance of subscription liabilities - - - - - - - 971,904 126,694 1,183,284
Transfers in 1,798,184 1,794,419 1,868,634 2,353,906 3,620,644 3,723,288 4,217,403 4,239,244 1,892,427 2,015,823
Transfers out (1,042,338) (1,032,680) (1,021,261) (1,262,327) (1,872,958) (1,963,506) (2,420,320) (2,441,479) (43,757) (30,248)
Sale of general capital assets 850,000 - - - - 748,986 - 4,668,757 - 491,244
Debt issuance - - - 12,520,000 - 2,499,320 - - - -
Total other financing sources (uses) 1,605,846 761,739 847,373 13,961,579 1,821,821 5,008,088 1,829,027 7,743,251 2,403,640 4,222,197
Net change in fund balance $ 1,946,674 $ 779,734 $ (801,722) $ 7,462,055 $ 4,503,564 $ 8,347,505 $ 544,044 $ 8,024,775 $ (1,629,610) $ (3,970,790)
Debt service as a percentage of noncapital expenditures 5.08% 4.75% 4.63% 5.66% 7.59% 7.46% 9.35% 10.56% 9.99% 9.60%
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules presenting government-
wide information include information beginning in that year.
Note: Beginning in FY22, the City implemented GASB Statement No. 87, Leases
Note: Beginning in FY22, the City began separately reporting investment income (losses) from other miscellaneous revenues
Note: Beginning in FY23, the City implemented GASB Statement No. 96, Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements
106
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 5
REVENUES AND OTHER SOURCES (1)
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Investment
Income Other
Fiscal Licenses, Fees, Intergovernmental Charges for Fines and (Losses) and Financing
Year Taxes and Permits Revenues Services Forfeitures Other Revenues Sources TOTAL
2025 $ 15,708,803 $ 3,072,409 $ 8,767,447 $ 3,784,813 $ 237,166 $ 3,065,271 $ 4,252,445 $ 38,888,354
2024 15,754,818 3,232,859 9,532,937 3,717,283 106,837 4,312,591 2,447,397 39,104,722
2023 15,344,155 4,722,748 10,169,568 3,743,367 237,061 2,111,254 7,743,251 44,071,404
2022 14,378,360 4,471,993 8,760,009 3,628,960 117,291 (1,028,841) 1,829,027 32,156,799
2021 13,705,445 4,102,640 9,094,488 3,461,193 77,476 1,358,329 5,008,088 36,807,659
2020 13,441,866 3,475,389 9,870,743 2,757,191 93,827 1,561,538 1,821,821 33,022,375
2019 13,101,370 2,659,200 5,516,224 2,868,887 94,578 1,770,325 15,223,906 41,234,490
2018 12,741,642 2,586,035 4,880,937 2,739,021 101,378 819,264 1,868,634 25,736,911
2017 12,220,392 2,514,178 4,266,425 2,488,384 127,406 1,042,958 1,794,419 24,454,162
2016 11,941,311 2,623,810 4,322,696 2,402,801 121,513 935,821 2,648,184 24,996,136
(1)
Includes General Fund, LETFs, CDBG Fund, FBC Fund, CRA Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Beal Memorial Cemetery Fund
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented
GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules presenting government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
107
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 6
ASSESSED VALUE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY (1)
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Total Assessed Total
Tax Real Personal Assessed Value for Direct Tax
Year Property Property Value Exemptions Operations Rate
2025 $ 2,851,733,248 $ 200,915,720 $ 3,052,648,968 $ 630,796,562 $ 2,421,852,406 4.3282
2024 2,631,355,774 166,865,535 2,798,221,309 596,827,402 2,201,393,907 4.3282
2023 2,491,514,381 165,274,982 2,656,789,363 572,446,316 2,084,343,047 4.6116
2022 2,284,074,540 134,039,029 2,418,113,569 531,246,048 1,886,867,521 4.9999
2021 2,029,638,016 127,094,869 2,156,732,885 519,837,310 1,636,895,575 5.3293
2020 1,932,732,538 121,764,835 2,054,497,373 509,515,431 1,544,981,942 5.3293
2019 1,824,002,582 118,539,677 1,942,542,259 493,474,028 1,449,068,231 5.6395
2018 1,717,941,745 113,382,574 1,831,324,319 477,406,649 1,353,917,670 5.7697
2017 1,622,927,933 117,555,021 1,740,482,954 462,721,193 1,277,761,761 5.7697
2016 1,569,650,612 113,113,590 1,682,764,202 458,344,109 1,224,420,093 5.7697
(1)
Florida State Law requires all property to be assessed at current fair market.
The 2024 tax roll is the basis for fiscal year 2025 revenues
Source: Okaloosa County Property Appraiser
108
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 7
PROPERTY TAX RATES PER $1,000 OF TAXABLE VALUE - ALL DIRECT AND OVERLAPPING GOVERNMENTS (1)
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
City of Fort Walton Beach Direct Rate Overlapping Rates*
Okaloosa Northwest Florida Total
Total Direct Okaloosa County School Water Overlapping
Year (1) Basic Rate Rate County Board Management Rates
2025 4.3282 4.3282 3.8308 5.3770 0.0207 9.2285
2024 4.3282 4.3282 3.8308 5.3790 0.0218 9.2316
2023 4.6116 4.6116 3.8308 5.4770 0.0234 9.3312
2022 4.9999 4.9999 3.8308 5.5790 0.0261 9.4359
2021 5.3293 5.3293 3.8308 5.9430 0.0294 9.8032
2020 5.3293 5.3293 3.8308 6.0350 0.0311 9.8969
2019 5.6395 5.6395 3.8308 6.2060 0.0327 10.0695
2018 5.7697 5.7697 3.8308 6.3610 0.0338 10.2256
2017 5.7697 5.7697 3.8308 6.5880 0.0353 10.4541
2016 5.7697 5.7697 3.4308 6.9070 0.0366 10.3744
(1)
As of levy date, November 1 of each year listed.
The 2024 millage rate is the basis for fiscal year 2025 tax revenues
* Overlapping rates are those of local and county governments that apply to property owners within the City of Fort Walton
Beach
Source: Okaloosa County Tax Collector
109
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 8
PRINCIPAL TAXPAYERS
Unaudited
2025 2016
Total Total
Assessed Assessed
Taxpayer Value Percentage Rank Value Percentage Rank
Florida Power & Light Co. $ 50,501,089 2.09% 1 $ 20,358,644 1.66% 1 Florida Power & Light Co. (Gulf Power Co.)
U S GOVT/HOME2SUITES 44,207,505 1.83% 2 14,339,454 1.17% 2 Suso 2 Uptown, LP
Suso 2 Uptown, LP 24,286,599 1.00% 3 7,005,455 0.57% 3 Cox Communications Gulf Coast, LLC
KAGR Fort Walton 1005 LLC 12,125,074 0.50% 4 6,077,028 0.50% 4 99 Eglin, LTD
Extra Space Properties Two LLC 11,702,804 0.48% 5 5,651,258 0.46% 5 DRS Training and Control
WIM-FWB RI LLC 11,480,152 0.47% 6 5,553,541 0.45% 6 Pacifica Walton Beach, LLC
Cox Communications Gulf Coast, LLC 11,428,682 0.47% 7 5,183,838 0.42% 7 Embarq Corp.
FWB Greens LLC 10,596,466 0.44% 8 5,154,076 0.42% 8 PSH of Okaloosa, LLC
Pacifica Walton Beach LLC 10,593,534 0.44% 9 4,897,391 0.40% 9 FNBT.com Bank
Retreat at Fort Walton Beach Propco LLC 8,811,970 0.36% 10 4,330,150 0.35% 10 Fort Walton Machining, Inc.
Total Taxable Assessed Value
of Principal Taxpayers 195,733,875 8.08% 78,550,835 6.42%
Total Taxable Assessed Value
of Other Taxpayers 2,226,118,531 91.92% 1,145,869,258 93.58%
Total Taxable Assessed Value $ 2,421,852,406 100.00% $ 1,224,420,093 100.00%
(1)
The 2025 tax roll is the basis for fiscal year 2026 tax revenues.
Source: Okaloosa County Property Appraiser
110
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 9
PROPERTY TAX LEVIES AND COLLECTIONS
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Ratio of Ratio of
Amount of Percent of Amount of Total Total Taxes Delinquent
Current Current Delinquent Collected Collected to Amount of Taxes to
Tax Total Tax Taxes Taxes Taxes for the Current Delinquent Current
Year Levy (1) Collected Collected Collected Year Levy Taxes Levy
2025 The 2025 tax levy is the basis for fiscal year 2025-26 tax revenues.
2024 $ 9,545,443 $ 9,197,456 96.4% $ 13,876 $ 9,211,332 96.5% $ 5,488 0.06%
2023 9,636,641 9,283,765 96.3% 7,456 9,291,221 96.4% 6,039 0.06%
2022 9,451,861 9,105,332 96.3% 19,389 9,124,721 96.5% 4,244 0.04%
2021 8,739,154 8,419,880 96.3% 21,315 8,441,195 96.6% 9,958 0.11%
2020 8,245,481 7,939,074 96.3% 13,594 7,952,668 96.4% 6,029 0.07%
2019 8,186,794 7,900,798 96.5% 18,327 7,919,125 96.7% 7,490 0.09%
2018 7,822,441 7,526,583 96.2% 20,747 7,547,330 96.5% 3,469 0.04%
2017 7,387,081 7,119,876 96.4% 8,632 7,128,508 96.5% 8,122 0.11%
2016 7,080,530 6,826,718 96.4% 18,798 6,845,516 96.7% 9,696 0.14%
(1)
Includes discount taken for early payment of taxes (maximum of 4%).
Source: Okaloosa County Tax Collector
111
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 10
RATIOS OF OUTSTANDING DEBT BY TYPE
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Governmental Activities Business Activities
General General State Total Percentage
Fiscal Obligation Lease Subscription Financing Revenue Revenue Obligation Lease Subscription Revenue Revolving Primary of Personal Per
Year Bonds Liabilities Liabilities Contracts Notes Bonds Bonds Liabilities Liabilities Notes Loans Government Income (1) Capita (2)
2025 $ - $ 594,073 $ 1,804,986 $ 380,874 $ 5,932,701 $ 9,973,067 $ - $ 35,817 $ 179,838 $ 4,673,000 $ 8,164,380 $ 31,738,736 0.22% 1,472.59
2024 - 421,986 1,298,973 222,785 6,937,626 10,520,145 - 102,468 - 5,185,000 8,941,531 33,630,514 0.25% 1,594.62
2023 - 193,047 1,714,631 536,581 7,922,834 10,950,732 - 166,017 - 5,683,000 9,704,126 36,870,968 0.28% 1,745.78
2022 - 393,186 - 600,745 8,888,359 11,365,436 - 190,610 - 6,167,000 10,452,433 38,057,769 0.30% 1,811.33
2021 - - - 944,447 9,828,934 11,764,842 - - - 6,637,000 11,186,723 40,361,946 0.35% 1,926.77
2020 - - - 67,035 9,025,971 12,149,516 - - - 7,093,000 11,907,259 40,242,781 0.38% 1,910.50
2019 - - - 6,681 9,726,372 12,520,000 - - - 7,537,000 12,614,297 42,404,350 0.42% 2,025.04
2018 - - - 42,217 10,408,945 - - - - 7,968,000 13,308,089 31,727,251 0.33% 1,523.15
2017 - - - 76,099 11,073,656 - - - - 8,387,000 13,988,885 33,525,640 0.37% 1,605.17
2016 - - - 106,653 11,725,331 - - - - 8,794,000 14,656,929 35,282,913 0.40% 1,689.88
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules presenting
government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
(1)
See Schedule 15 for personal income data.
(2)
See Schedule 15 for population data.
Note: Beginning in FY22, the City implemented GASB Statement No. 87, Leases
Note: Beginning in FY23, the City implemented GASB Statement No. 96, Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements
Note: Details regarding the City's outstanding debt can be found in the notes to the financial statements.
112
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 11
RATIO OF NET GENERAL BONDED DEBT OUTSTANDING
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Governmental
Activities
Percentage of
General Actual Taxable
Fiscal Year Obligation Bonds Value of Property (1) Per Capita (2)
2025 $ - 0.00% $ -
2024 - 0.00% -
2023 - 0.00% -
2022 - 0.00% -
2021 - 0.00% -
2020 - 0.00% -
2019 - 0.00% -
2018 - 0.00% -
2017 - 0.00% -
2016 - 0.00% -
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive
financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002; schedules presenting
government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
(1)
See Schedule 6 for property value data.
(2)
See Schedule 15 for population data.
Note: Details regarding the City's outstanding debt can be found in the notes to the financial statements.
113
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 12
PLEDGED REVENUE COVERAGE
SCHEDULE OF REVENUE BOND COVERAGE
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Average
Non-Ad Valorem
Revenues
Fiscal Non-Ad Valorem Avail. for Debt Service Requirements (2)
Year Revenues (1) Debt Service Principal Interest Total Coverage
2025 $ 43,698,865 $ 44,354,058 $ 3,881,584 $ 997,297 $ 4,878,881 9.09
2024 45,009,250 44,633,809 3,795,424 1,079,247 4,874,671 9.16
2023 44,258,368 41,571,494 3,780,566 1,045,404 4,825,970 8.61
2022 38,884,619 39,790,234 3,107,726 1,102,464 4,210,190 9.45
2021 40,695,849 39,997,947 2,380,155 1,133,336 3,513,491 11.38
2020 39,300,045 43,467,423 2,235,704 1,185,842 3,421,546 12.70
2019 47,634,800 39,571,847 1,823,173 1,029,403 2,852,576 13.87
2018 31,508,894 29,893,013 1,846,847 803,314 2,650,161 11.28
2017 28,277,131 28,292,306 1,726,719 831,220 2,557,939 11.06
2016 28,307,481 28,537,163 1,301,785 860,023 2,161,808 13.20
(1)
Non-Ad Valorem Revenues of General Fund, other governmental funds, and proprietary funds.
(2)
Combined Debt Service requirements for Capital Improvement Revenue Note Series 2013 & 2013A, Capital
Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2018, Utility System Revenue Note 2015, SRF Loan, 2011 Revenue Note,
Financing Contracts, Leases, and Subscription Liabilities. See Financial Statement Notes for detail.
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual
comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The City implemented GASB Statement 34 in 2002;
schedules presenting government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
114
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 13
DIRECT AND OVERLAPPING GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES DEBT
Unaudited
Percentage Amount
Net Debt Applicable to Applicable to
Governmental Unit Outstanding Fort Walton Beach Fort Walton Beach
Overlapping Debt
Okaloosa County
Revenue Bonds $ 113,108,435 9.59% (2) $ 10,845,484
Revenue Notes 13,617,857 9.59% (2) 1,305,758
Financing Contracts 11,597 9.59% (2) 1,112
Okaloosa County School District
Certificates of Participation 2,161,000 25.45% (1) 550,073
Financing Contracts 249,758,726 25.45% (1) 63,574,948
Lease and Subscription Liabilities 59,802,829 25.45% (1) 15,222,538
Subtotal: Overlapping Debt 438,460,444 91,499,913
Direct Debt
City of Fort Walton Beach Revenue Bonds & Notes 15,905,768 100.00% 15,905,768
City of Fort Walton Beach Financing Contracts 380,874 100.00% 380,874
City of Fort Walton Beach Lease Liabilities 594,073 100.00% 594,073
City of Fort Walton Beach Subscription Liabilities 1,804,986 100.00% 1,804,986
Subtotal: Direct Debt 18,685,701 18,685,701
Total Direct and Overlapping Debt $ 457,146,145 $ 110,185,614
Source: Okaloosa County, Okaloosa County School Board
(1) Calculation based on total schools in Okaloosa County School District versus schools in Fort Walton Beach.
(2) Calculation based on total population in Okaloosa County versus population in Fort Walton Beach.
115
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 14
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Unaudited
2025 2016
Percentage Percentage
of Total of Total
Employer Product Employees Employment Ranking Employees Employment Ranking
USAF - Eglin AFB (1) Air Force Development Test Center 19,040 17.29% 1 21,500 18.81% 1
(2)
USAF - Hurlburt AFB Air Force Special Ops Command 13,255 12.04% 2 10,651 9.32% 2
Okaloosa County School District Education Services 4,428 4.02% 3 3,521 3.08% 3
Walmart Consumer Products 1,386 1.26% 4
HCA FL Fort Walton-Destin Hospital Medical Services 1,252 1.14% 5 1,000 0.87% 5
(3)
Okaloosa County BCC Local Government Services 1,127 1.02% 6 1,501 1.31% 4
Publix (Okaloosa Combined) Consumer Products 910 0.83% 7
Reliance Test & Technology Government Contractor 770 0.70% 8
Lockheed Martin Defense Contractor 730 0.66% 9 800 0.70% 7
North Okaloosa Medical Center Medical Services 725 0.66% 10
Jacobs Technology - TEAS Group Military Technical Support 1,000 0.87% 5
InDyne Inc. Military Technical Support 800 0.70% 7
Northwest Florida State College Education Services 752 0.66% 9
L-3 Crestview Aerospace Military Technical Support 600 0.52% 10
43,623 39.61% 42,125 36.86%
(1)
Includes military, civilian, and contractor personnel; a portion of contractor personnel may be duplicated with private sector employees also listed here.
(2)
Includes military and civilian personnel.
(3)
Includes County Commission, Clerk of Court, Property Appraiser, Sheriff (estimated), Supervisor of Elections, and Tax Collector.
Source: One Okaloosa Economic Development Council (oneokaloosa.org/employers)
116
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 15
MISCELLANEOUS DEMOGRAPHICAL STATISTICS
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Fiscal Fort Walton Beach Okaloosa County FWB as a % Personal Income Per Capita Unemployment
Year Population Population of the County (thousands of dollars) Personal Income Rate
2025 21,553 224,778 9.59% $ 14,601,665 $ 64,960 4.1%
2024 21,090 220,603 9.56% 13,596,268 61,632 2.8%
2023 21,120 217,882 9.69% 12,981,628 59,581 2.7%
2022 21,011 215,751 9.74% 12,663,927 58,697 2.2%
2021 20,948 213,204 9.83% 11,626,309 54,531 3.2%
2020 21,064 203,951 10.33% 10,680,336 52,367 5.2%
2019 20,940 201,514 10.39% 10,194,990 50,592 2.6%
2018 20,830 198,152 10.51% 9,678,184 48,842 2.8%
2017 20,886 195,488 10.68% 9,151,339 46,813 3.0%
2016 20,879 192,925 10.82% 8,925,717 46,265 4.2%
OKALOOSA COUNTY EDUCATION
FY 2025 FY 2024 FY 2023
Schools: Grades K-5 23 23 23
Grades 6-8 12 12 12
Grades 9-12 8 8 8
PK-12 / Charter / Alternate 2 / 5 / 10 2 / 5 / 10 2 / 5 / 10
Grades K-8 1 1 1
Vocational / Technical 1 1 1
Exceptional Children 2 2 2
Students: Grades K-5 13,991 15,185 15,737
Grades 6-8 7,185 7,834 7,997
Grades 9-12 9,051 11,002 9,596
Adult Students 770 761 779
Exceptional Children 6,699 7,287 7,207
Personnel: 1,712 1,807 1,867
Source: Office of Economic & Demographic Research, FL Research & Economic Information Database, Okaloosa County School Board
117
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 16
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES BY FUNCTION/PROGRAM
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Full-Time Equivalent Employees as of September 30
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
General Government
City Manager 3.00 4.00 4.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Human Resources 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.70 4.70 4.70 3.60
Information Technology 4.00 4.00 5.00 5.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.80 2.00
City Clerk 3.00 3.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.40 2.40 2.40 2.50
Finance 7.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00
Purchasing 4.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Administration 1.60 2.50 - - - - - - - -
Public Safety
Police 75.32 73.67 71.17 71.34 75.95 74.82 74.82 74.90 70.90 64.90
Fire 43.25 43.25 44.25 44.25 44.00 43.00 37.00 37.00 37.00 37.00
Recreation & Cultural Services
Administration 12.68 13.00 12.70 12.70 12.70 12.70 12.70 11.50 11.50 12.90
Parks Maintenance 13.10 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 12.00 10.25 10.25 10.00
Right-of-Way Maintenance - - - - - - 1.00 1.00 2.00 1.00
Golf Club 27.41 13.35 13.43 13.43 13.42 13.42 13.96 13.81 13.81 14.26
Golf Grounds Maintenance - 14.00 14.00 14.00 15.75 15.75 15.75 15.75 15.75 15.75
Library 9.22 9.40 9.40 9.40 9.22 9.22 8.72 8.72 8.72 8.02
Museum 4.10 4.10 4.10 4.10 4.10 4.10 3.60 4.00 4.00 4.60
Cemetery 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Growth Management
Administration 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Planning & Zoning 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.00
Building & Permitting 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.50 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 4.00 4.00
Code Enforcement 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.75 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
Fleet Maintenance 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00
Facilities Maintenance 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Streets Maintenance 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 6.00
Utility (Water/Sewer) Enterprise
Administration 5.00 5.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 5.00 6.00 5.00 5.00 8.00
Customer Service 5.00 5.00 4.50 4.50 4.50 5.50 5.50 5.50 5.50 5.50
GIS 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 -
Water Operations 10.00 10.00 9.00 9.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 9.00 9.00 9.00
Water Distribution 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
Sewer Collections 13.00 13.00 12.00 12.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00
Sanitation Enterprise
Solid Waste 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00
Recycling 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Stormwater Enterprise
Stormwater 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00
Total 316.93 317.52 311.80 310.97 312.64 310.51 306.15 304.53 300.33 292.03
Source: City of Fort Walton Beach adopted budget for the subsequent year.
118
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 17
PERMITS, LICENSES AND RECREATION FACILITIES
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
MISCELLANEOUS PERMITS
Year Mechanical Electrical Gas Plumbing Water & Sewer
2025 333 667 428 426 21
2024 271 677 326 409 13
2023 410 627 203 376 12
2022 287 533 195 247 17
2021 228 543 205 244 26
2020 262 573 196 231 22
2019 303 392 201 172 25
2018 300 360 159 159 37
2017 260 368 169 213 45
2016 200 216 144 92 81
BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS ISSUED (formerly referred to as occupational licenses)
Year Number Sold
2025 758
2024 136
2023 196
2022 152
2021 166
2020 212
2019 406
2018 628
2017 1,769
2016 2,115
MUNICIPAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
2 18-hole Golf Courses 1 Library
1 18-hole Disc Golf Course 4 Museums
1 Auditorium 23 Playgrounds
8 Baseball-Softball Fields 2 Racquetball Court Facilities
1 BMX/Skateboard Facility 1 Recreation Center
4 Boat Ramps 4 Soccer Field Facilities
8 Exercise/Walking Tracks 16 Tennis Courts
4 Beach Volleyball Courts 7 Undeveloped Parks
21 Pickleball Courts 7 Waterfront Parks
Sources: City of Fort Walton Beach Customer Service, Building & Permitting, and Recreation departments.
119
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 18
ELECTIONS - OKALOOSA COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION
Unaudited
Registered Voters
Pct Place Name Total Dems Reps NPA Other
01 BAKER 2,951 255 2,216 425 55
02 BLACKMON 754 65 587 93 9
03 MILLIGAN 1,500 158 1,026 272 44
04 HOLT 1,546 164 1,097 241 44
05 LAUREL HILL 1,279 168 887 197 27
06 GARDEN CITY 5,144 708 3,238 1,021 177
07 DORCAS 2,244 298 1,403 476 67
08 HONEY CREEK 4,841 821 2,842 1,037 141
09 YELLOW RIVER 4,441 727 2,548 1,017 149
10 WEST WRIGHT 6,176 1,378 2,948 1,613 237
11 EAST CRESTVIEW 13,416 2,706 6,394 3,810 506
12 WEST CRESTVIEW 1,023 469 291 228 35
13 NORTH CRESTVIEW 4,504 783 2,656 913 152
14 WEST NICEVILLE 3,085 478 1,785 690 132
15 VALPARAISO 3,353 497 1,961 771 124
16 SHALIMAR 2,998 569 1,662 666 101
17 CENTRAL WRIGHT 2,924 745 1,342 715 122
18 OCEAN CITY 2,652 521 1,379 661 91
19* EAST FWB 1,831 484 786 489 72
20 WEST DESTIN 2,893 412 1,809 587 85
21 MARY ESTHER 2,776 532 1,501 639 104
22* S CENTRAL FWB 2,194 515 1,087 517 75
23 EGLIN AFB 849 163 346 295 45
24* WEST FWB 2,905 738 1,332 726 109
25 N CENTRAL NICEVILLE 2,096 338 1,208 474 76
26 SEMINOLE 2,760 337 1,815 552 56
27 CINCO BAYOU 296 57 143 83 13
28* GARNIERS 347 62 208 66 11
29* GOLF COURSE 2,031 288 1,227 463 53
30 OKALOOSA ISLAND 1,584 227 954 352 51
31 LONGWOOD 2,151 312 1,434 364 41
32* FERRY PARK 2,462 413 1,508 483 58
33 ROCKY BAYOU 5,146 607 3,391 1,035 113
34 FLOROSA 3,760 734 1,877 996 153
35 NORTH DESTIN 3,364 432 2,176 638 118
36 SOUTH NICEVILLE 2,833 347 1,833 573 80
37 LAKE LORRAINE 2,731 369 1,737 559 66
38 NORTHGATE 2,155 449 1,141 493 72
39 EAST WRIGHT 2,224 507 1,130 514 73
40 SOUTH BLUEWATER 3,038 331 2,022 601 84
41* N CENTRAL FWB 1,394 268 834 262 30
42* NEW HEIGHTS 2,302 668 991 569 74
43 S CENTRAL NICEVILLE 2,364 397 1,379 510 78
44 CENTRAL DESTIN 1,926 314 1,067 469 76
45 SOUTH CRESTVIEW 4,540 938 2,232 1,199 171
46 NORTH BLUEWATER 4,625 634 2,860 1,004 127
47 WYNNEHAVEN BEACH 2,028 345 991 608 84
48* WESTWOOD RETIREMENT 113 21 74 17 1
49 EAST DESTIN 3,287 335 2,247 622 83
50 SOUTH DESTIN 2,757 276 1,941 459 81
51 AIRPORT ROAD 2,349 329 1,412 534 74
52 LIVE OAK 4,502 754 2,464 1,144 140
Countywide Total 149,444 25,443 85,419 33,742 4,840
*City Precinct City Total 15,579 3,457 8,047 3,592 483
Source: Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections
120
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 19
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BILLINGS AND COLLECTIONS
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Total
Ratio of Outstanding
Assessments Collections Current and
Fiscal Collected or to Amount Delinquent
Year Assessments (1) Released Assessed Assessment
2025 $ 2,751 $ 468 1.19% $ 38,897
2024 2,507 468 1.26% 36,614
2023 2,262 211,291 85.94% 34,575
2022 2,157 25,702 9.54% 243,604
2021 1,490 25,052 8.57% 267,149
2020 766 31,086 9.66% 290,711
2019 925 31,912 9.04% 321,031
2018 755 27,180 7.17% 352,018
2017 660 25,807 6.38% 378,443
2016 380,571 27,804 6.45% 403,590
(1)
Assessments are payable over a 15-20 year period.
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual
comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year.
121
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 20
MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Other
Fiscal Property % of Total Taxes/ % of Total Sewer % of Total Sanitation % of Total Water % of Total Golf % of Total
Year Taxes Revenues Franchise Fees Revenues Fees Revenues Fees Revenues Fees Revenues Fees Revenues
2025 $ 7,693,921 14.2% $ 15,925,770 29.3% $ 7,958,934 14.7% $ 5,433,078 10.0% $ 4,414,012 8.1% $ 2,561,477 4.7%
2024 7,750,534 13.9% 16,636,068 29.9% 7,501,498 13.5% 5,177,268 9.3% 3,978,315 7.2% 2,486,342 4.5%
2023 7,618,352 14.0% 15,741,791 28.9% 7,469,849 13.7% 5,018,548 9.2% 4,210,867 7.7% 2,553,563 4.7%
2022 7,025,573 14.5% 15,455,429 32.0% 7,382,498 15.3% 4,748,512 9.8% 4,482,309 9.3% 2,286,970 4.7%
2021 6,608,861 13.3% 14,624,266 29.5% 7,272,112 14.7% 4,381,765 8.8% 4,432,189 8.9% 1,960,608 4.0%
2020 6,573,751 13.6% 13,404,633 27.8% 6,999,110 14.5% 3,934,207 8.2% 4,067,771 8.4% 1,751,965 3.6%
2019 6,416,668 11.5% 12,358,719 22.1% 7,005,068 12.5% 3,871,165 6.9% 4,041,311 7.2% 1,696,822 3.0%
2018 6,041,303 15.3% 7,343,744 18.7% 6,728,172 17.1% 3,774,520 9.6% 3,902,809 9.9% 1,676,940 4.3%
2017 7,457,189 20.9% 7,015,584 19.6% 6,668,790 18.7% 3,663,445 10.3% 3,906,282 10.9% 1,317,803 3.7%
2016 7,271,903 20.5% 7,124,985 20.0% 6,310,574 17.7% 3,589,419 10.1% 3,769,366 10.6% 1,378,730 3.9%
Sources: Unless otherwise noted, the information in these schedules is derived from the annual comprehensive financial reports for the relevant year. The city implemented GASB Statement 34 in
2002; schedules presenting government-wide information include information beginning in that year.
122
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 21
WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE RATES
Unaudited
Monthly Water Rates(1,2) Residential Commercial Number of
Inside Outside(3) Inside Outside(3) Meters
Lifeline Rate(4) $12.37 $15.46 $12.37 $15.46
Monthly Base Charge(5), Meter Size:
3/4" $12.37 $15.46 $12.37 $15.46 9,119
1.0" $12.37 $15.46 $12.37 $15.46 344
1.5" $16.81 $21.01 $16.81 $21.01 116
2.0" $28.58 $35.73 $27.20 $35.73 242
3.0" $43.55 $54.44 $43.55 $54.44 13
4.0" $54.41 $68.01 $54.41 $68.01 32
6.0" $86.57 $108.21 $86.57 $108.21 0
8.0" or 10.0" $129.74 $162.18 $129.74 $162.18 1
Multi-Residential, Addt'l per Unit $9.16 $11.45 $9.16 $11.45
9,867
Residential Customers (6) 8,593
Commercial Customers (6) 1,274
Total Customers 9,867
Gallonage Rate (per 1,000 gallons per unit) Inside Outside
Block 1 (0 - 2,000) Included in monthly base charge
Block 2 (2,001 - 4,000) $3.69 $4.61
Block 3 (4,001 - 8,000) $4.51 $5.64
Block 4 (8,001 +) $6.77 $8.46
Monthly Wastewater Rates(2) Residential Commercial
Lifeline Rate(4) $28.18 $33.84
Monthly Base Charge $28.18 $33.84
Gallonage Rate (per 1,000 gallons per unit)(5)
Block 1 (0 - 2,000) Included in monthly base charge
Block 2 (2,001 +) $8.86 $10.64
(1)
Irrigation customers subject to water rates as outlined herein
(2)
Monthly Base Charge is per Unit. Residential Single Family and Commercial count as 1 unit
Multi-Family and Multi-Commercial are billed according to meter size and unit count
(3)
Outside City surcharge of 25% for water
(4)
Single family residence with less than 2,000 gallons per month
(5)
Residential service capped at 16,000 gallons per unit
(6)
Billed in September
Source: City of Fort Walton Beach Comprehensive Fee Schedule
123
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 22
SANITATION AND RECYCLING SERVICE RATES
Unaudited
Basic Garbage Rates Garbage Tipping Total
Residential
One Container $ 20.13 $ 7.00 $ 27.13
Two Containers 10.06 7.00 17.06
Residential Dumpsters, Individual Meters 20.13 7.00 27.13
Commercial
One Container 38.88 7.83 46.71
Two Containers 77.75 15.71 93.46
Shared Dumpster (minimum charge) 38.88 7.83 46.71
Garbage and Trash Collection Garbage Tipping Total
2 Cubic Yards
2 times per week $ 82.53 $ 56.49 $ 139.02
3 times per week 123.77 84.64 208.41
4 times per week 165.11 112.73 277.84
5 times per week 206.29 140.92 347.21
6 times per week 247.55 169.07 416.62
4 Cubic Yards
2 times per week 116.50 112.73 229.23
3 times per week 174.76 169.07 343.83
4 times per week 233.00 225.41 458.41
5 times per week 291.24 281.69 572.93
6 times per week 349.49 338.03 687.52
6 Cubic Yards
2 times per week 152.94 169.07 322.01
3 times per week 229.39 253.60 482.99
4 times per week 305.79 338.03 643.82
5 times per week 382.25 422.50 804.75
6 times per week 458.71 507.09 965.80
8 Cubic Yards
2 times per week 184.47 225.41 409.88
3 times per week 276.71 338.03 614.74
4 times per week 368.93 450.70 819.63
5 times per week 461.15 563.39 1,024.54
6 times per week 553.39 671.01 1,224.40
One-time fee to change dumpster size $25.00
Compactor Commercial Rate x 3 x Bulk Container(s)
Commercial Recycling Garbage Tipping Total
4 Cubic Yards
2 times per week $ 125.43 $ - $ 125.43
3 times per week 188.10 - 188.10
4 times per week 250.82 - 250.82
5 times per week 313.54 - 313.54
6 Cubic Yards
2 times per week 188.10 - 188.10
3 times per week 282.15 - 282.15
4 times per week 376.20 - 376.20
5 times per week 470.25 - 470.25
8 Cubic Yards
2 times per week 250.82 - 250.82
3 times per week 376.20 - 376.20
4 times per week 501.63 - 501.63
5 times per week 627.02 - 627.02
Contaminated Load Fee (per dump)
4 CY 22.26 36.11 58.37
6 CY 22.26 64.94 87.20
8CY 22.26 100.94 123.20
Source: City of Fort Walton Beach Comprehensive Fee Schedule
124
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 23
OPERATING INDICATORS BY FUNCTION/PROGRAM
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Function Fiscal Year
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Public Safety
Police
Arrests 699 447 730 608 643 627 611 660 757 921
Traffic citations 1,827 1,822 3,693 2,097 1,973 1,327 1,404 1,632 2,436 2,693
Fire
Emergency medical responses 5,296 3,800 3,823 3,698 3,159 1,265 3,123 3,310 2,994 3,067
Fire responses 71 72 1,571 1,568 1,407 2,825 1,406 1,324 1,249 1,210
Inspections 412 886 854 885 944 643 1,008 966 932 2,409
Code Enforcement
Code violations 1,051 793 780 1,392 1,129 965 1,251 1,446 1,825 1,807
Engineering Services
Building permits issued 2,910 2,845 2,846 2,728 2,741 2,288 2,095 2,006 332 n/a
Residential building permits issued 2,273 2,302 2,299 1,870 2,266 1,692 1,942 1,855 483 23
Commercial building permits issued 637 543 547 858 475 596 153 151 178 5
Value of permits (in millions) $128.00 $33.04 $80.21 $115.13 $70.86 $81.98 $65.80 $41.00 $27.00 $5.00
Value of residential permits (in millions) $26.00 $18.30 $26.85 $42.05 $30.59 $28.76 $41.50 $26.00 $12.00 $4.00
Value of commercial permits (in millions) $102.00 $14.00 $53.35 $73.08 $40.27 $53.21 $24.30 $15.00 $15.00 $1.00
Business Tax Receipts Sold 758 136 196 152 166 212 406 628 1,769 2,115
Street resurfacing (lane miles) 2.50 2.04 0.72 1.49 1.06 1.27 0.00 0.18 0.00 1.01
Pot holes (hours spent repairing) 358 359 272 538 422 494 557 166 213 163
Sanitation
Refuse collected (tons) 25,430 26,450 25,883 26,457 27,749 27,854 26,498 26,317 26,151 25,203
Recyclables collected (tons) 1,891 2,014 2,051 2,161 2,204 2,030 2,048 2,032 1,811 1,507
Culture and Recreation
Parks and Recreation
Recreation program participants 533 462 397 311 212 191 206 199 102 154
Recreation program registrations n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Adult athletic participants 783 671 221 1,051 857 1,042 820 770 530 n/a
Adult athletic registrations n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 621
Youth athletic participants 2,489 1,877 1,775 2,005 1,791 1,496 2,264 2,123 2,394 n/a
Youth athletic registrations n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2,086
Library
Circulation volume 155,250 133,575 128,806 113,022 121,287 127,507 157,554 147,760 139,980 144,474
Museum
Number of visitors/participants(1) 9,111 13,644 14,667 14,515 9,636 13,662 30,050 23,012 24,522 22,437
Water System
New connections 21 13 12 12 26 22 25 37 45 81
Water customers 9,867 9,895 10,246 9,698 9,777 9,677 9,642 9,639 9,620 9,618
Water produced (million gallons) 977 964 957 958 947 940 912 895 866 883
Source: City of Fort Walton Beach Performance Measures. 125
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 24
CAPITAL ASSET STATISTICS BY FUNCTION/PROGRAM
Last Ten Fiscal Years
Unaudited
Function/Program Fiscal Year
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Public Safety
Police
Stations 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Sworn Officers 56 55 54 52 52 45 45 47 45 39
Engineering Services
Miles of roads 93.34 93.34 93.34 93.12 93.12 93.12 93.12 93.12 93.12 93.12
Miles of sidewalks 65.76 65.71 65.19 63.79 63.79 63.79 63.79 63.67 63.67 64.73
Signs fabricated and installed 189 435 423 448 391 531 461 286 614 854
Culture and Recreation
Parks and Recreation
Recreational Amenities 116 116 116 116 116 116 129 129 129 129
Parks (acres) 448.54 448.54 448.54 448.54 448.54 448.54 (1) 206.00 206.00 206.00 206.00
Library
Inventoried collection 55,867 54,101 51,461 48,335 47,216 51,398 56,973 62,513 67,881 70,353
Water and Sewer System
Potable water lines (miles) 148.95 149.62 148.48 146.89 146.77 146.48 146.40 146.33 146.10 144.91
Sanitary sewer lines (miles) 131.46 131.37 131.34 129.97 129.82 129.44 129.49 129.49 129.62 129.51
Reuse water lines (miles) 7.74 7.74 7.74 7.10 7.10 7.10 7.10 7.10 7.10 7.10
Potable Water Elevated Storage Tank Capacity: 1 tank 200,000 gal; 1 tank 750,000 gal; 2 tanks 500,000 gal
Potable Water Ground Storage Tank Capacity: 1 tank 135,000 gal; 1 tank 250,000 gal; 1 tank 1,000,000 gal; 1 tank 25,000 gal
Pumping Capacity of Potable Water Wells: 9.231 million gallons per day
Sanitary Sewer Ground Storage Tank Capacity: 4,000,000 gal
Reuse Water Elevated Storage Tank Capacity: 1 tank 200,000 gal
Reuse Water Ground Storage Tank Capacity: 1 tank 1,000,000 gal
Stormwater System
Storm drains (miles) 44.15 44.14 44.14 44.14 44.14 44.14 43.33 43.18 42.10 42.03
(1)
FY 2020 Increase due to golf courses not being included in prior years.
N/A: Not available.
Source: City of Fort Walton Beach Performance Measures.
126
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 25
INSURANCE COVERAGE
Unaudited
Agent, Broker, or
Effective Dates Company Policy Number Company Rep. Type Location
12/6/25 to 12/6/26 Wright National 1151306332 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 500,000 B #7 Hollywood Boulevard
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 500,000 C Police Department
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1152207555 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 500,000 B #5 Hollywood Boulevard
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 300,000 C Fire Department
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1151292103 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 403,000 B 107 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 129,000 C Auditorium
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1151291796 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 403,000 B 107 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 383,000 C City Hall
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1151292114 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 178,000 B 107 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 25,000 C Council Chamber
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1151292125 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 377,000 B 107 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 359,000 C Annex Building
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1151292120 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 390,000 B 107 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 17,000 C Bathrooms Building
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1151291389 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 500,000 B 141 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 100,000 C City Museum
10/12/25 to 10/12/26 Wright National 1152207556 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 350,000 B 22 McGriff Street
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 50,000 C Child Care Facility
12/2/25 to 12/2/26 Wright National 1150164378 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 39,000 B 338 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency Restroom, East of Pavilion
Liza Jackson Park
12/2/25 to 12/2/26 Wright National 1150164379 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 39,000 B 338 Miracle Strip Parkway
Marsh & McLennan Agency Restroom Near Ditch
Liza Jackson Park
05/17/25 to 05/17/26 Wright National 1150342974 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 98,000 B 55 Ferry Road
Marsh & McLennan Agency Boy Scout Hut
07/23/25 to 07/23/26 Wright National 1152199654 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 363,000 B 118 Hollywood Blvd
Marsh & McLennan Agency $ 53,000 C Pump Station #1
06/23/25 to 06/23/26 Wright National 1150458831 Fisher-Brown Agency / Flood $ 55,000 B 168 Coral Drive SW
Marsh & McLennan Agency City Hall Ball Field Restrooms
10/01/25 to 10/01/26 Commerce & Industry Ins. Co. FPL012896318 Risk Management Associates Petroleum $ 1,000,000/inc Golf Course, Police, City Yard, Fuel Station
Liability $ 1,000,000/agg Pump Station - Fire, Recreation Center
127
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 25
INSURANCE COVERAGE
Unaudited
Agent, Broker, or
Effective Dates Company Policy Number Company Rep. Type Location
10/01/25 to 10/01/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Inland $ 750,000 2M | Blanket Unscheduled
Marine $ 32,672 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 35,953 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 44,669 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 30,204 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 52,765 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 97,373 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 35,808 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 55,654 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 32,943 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 30,843 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 30,753 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 54,116 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 25,343 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 40,343 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 37,236 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 26,165 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 29,660 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 81,611 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 81,611 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 35,403 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 25,190 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 28,428 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 63,048 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 26,358 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 24,657 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 24,657 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 30,567 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 35,543 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 56,432 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 37,735 6M | Contractor's / Mobile Equipment
$ 690,193 127 - 2024 Yamaha Golf Carts
$ 93,150 Electronic Data Processing Equipment - RC
$ 730,000 Museum Ceramic Stone Comparative
$ 6,500 Other Inland Marine (Street Signs)
$ 250,000 Unscheduled Items
$ 135,417 Rented, Borrowed, Leased Equipment - ACV
$ 111,683 Rented, Borrowed, Leased Equipment - ACV
$ 4,010,683 Total All Inland Marine
1/17/26 to 1/17/27 Nicole Nabors - Travelers 107774436 Fisher-Brown Agency / Public Official $ 50,000 Finance Director
Marsh & McLennan Agency Bond
5/3/23 to TBD Markus Schumacher - Travelers 107832461 Fisher-Brown Agency / Public Official $ 50,000 Comptroller, Finance Department
Marsh & McLennan Agency Bond
128
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE 25
INSURANCE COVERAGE
Unaudited
Agent, Broker, or
Effective Dates Company Policy Number Company Rep. Type Location
5/3/23 to TBD Cassandra Hodys - Travelers 107832448 Fisher-Brown Agency / Public Official $ 50,000 Utility Billing Supervisor,
Marsh & McLennan Agency Bond Finance Department
2/18/21 to TBD Kim Barnes - Travelers 107222946 Fisher-Brown Agency / Public Official $ 50,000 City Clerk
Marsh & McLennan Agency Bond
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Auto $ 1,000,000 CSL Liability
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Forgery $ 250,000
Alteration
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Money & $ 10,000
Securities
(theft)
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Crime $ 250,000 Public Employees (Employee dishonesty)
Blanket Fidelity Bond
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates General $ 1,000,000 Occurence
Liability
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Property $ 63,121,310 Blank Real & Personal
Property
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Property $ 2,000,000 Business Income (Interruption)
$ 2,000,000 Additional Expense
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT WC-FL10462003 25-16 Risk Management Associates Worker's $ 1,000,000 Each Accident
Comp $ 1,000,000 Disease (Policy Limit)
$ 1,000,000 Disease (Each Employee)
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Public Officials $ 5,000,000/inc Claims Made
Empl. Practice $ 5,000,000/agg Claims Made
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 Ace American ADD N16744931 Chubb AD&D $ 75,000 Line of Duty Coverage
$ 75,000 Fresh Pursuit Coverage
$ 225,000 Unlawful/Unintentional
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 PGIT PKFL10462003 25-21 Risk Management Associates Boiler & $ 70,556,018 Equipment Breakdown
Machinery
5/1/24 to 5/1/27 Travelers 105927344 Fisher-Brown Agency / Fiduciary $ 2,000,000 Retirement Fund for General Liability
Marsh & McLennan Agency Employees and Police
10/1/25 to 10/1/26 Ace American PTP N1793868A Chubb Group Cancer $ 25,000 First Diagnosis Cancer Benefit
$ 25,000 First Diagnosis Benefit Continuation
$ 75,000 Cancer Death Benefit
Source: City of Fort Walton Beach Risk Management Department
129
IV. COMPLIANCE SECTION
• COMPLIANCE MATTERS
• MANAGEMENT LETTER
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL
REPORTING AND ON COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS BASED ON AN AUDIT OF
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT
AUDITING STANDARDS
To the City Council
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
We have audited, in accordance with the auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards
issued by the Comptroller General of the United States, the financial statements of the governmental
activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida (the City), as of and for the year ended September 30, 2025, and the
related notes to the financial statements, which collectively comprise the City’s basic financial statements
and have issued our report thereon dated March 27, 2026.
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements, we considered the City’s internal control
over financial reporting (internal control) as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in
the circumstances for the purpose of expressing our opinions on the financial statements, but not for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the City’s internal control. Accordingly, we do not
express an opinion on the effectiveness of the City’s internal control.
A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management
or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and
correct, misstatements on a timely basis. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of
deficiencies, in internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of
the City’s financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. A
significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control that is less severe
than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance.
Our consideration of internal control was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph of this
section and was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be material
weaknesses or significant deficiencies. Given these limitations, during our audit we did not identify any
deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be material weaknesses. However, material
weaknesses or significant deficiencies may exist that were not identified.
130
Report on Compliance and Other Matters
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the City’s financial statements are free from
material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations,
contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the
financial statements. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an
objective of our audit, and accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests
disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under
Government Auditing Standards.
Purpose of this Report
The purpose of this report is solely to describe the scope of our testing of internal control and compliance
and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal
control or on compliance. This report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with
Government Auditing Standards in considering the City’s internal control and compliance. Accordingly,
this communication is not suitable for any other purpose.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
March 27, 2026
131
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT ON AN EXAMINATION OF COMPLIANCE
REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 10.550, RULES OF THE
AUDITOR GENERAL
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
We have examined the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida’s (the City’s) compliance with Section 218.415,
Florida Statutes, in regard to the investments for the year ended September 30, 2025:
Management is responsible for the City’s compliance with those requirements. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the City’s compliance based on our examination.
Our examination was conducted in accordance with attestation standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
examination to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the City complied, in all material respects,
with the specified requirements. An examination involves performing procedures to obtain evidence about
whether the City complied with the specified requirements. The nature, timing, and extent of the
procedures selected depend on our judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material
noncompliance, whether due to fraud or error. We believe that the evidence we obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We are required to be independent and to meet our ethical responsibilities in accordance with relevant
ethical requirements relating to the examination engagement.
Our examination does not provide a legal determination of the City’s compliance with specified
requirements.
In our opinion, the City complied, in all material respects, with the specified requirements for the year
ended September 30, 2025.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of the City, the Florida Auditor General, and the
State of Florida, and is not intended to be, and should not be, used by anyone other than these specified
parties.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
March 27, 2026
132
MANAGEMENT LETTER
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida
We have audited the financial statements of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida (the City), as of and
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, and have issued our report thereon dated March 27, 2026.
Auditors’ Responsibility
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued
by the Comptroller General of the United States; and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General.
Other Reporting Requirements
We have issued our Independent Auditors’ Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and on
Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of the Financial Statements Performed in Accordance
with Government Auditing Standards; Schedule of Findings and Responses; and Independent
Accountants’ Report on an examination conducted in accordance with AICPA Professional Standards,
AT-C Section 315, regarding compliance requirements in accordance with Chapter 10.550, Rules of the
Auditor General. Disclosures in those reports and schedule, which are dated March 27, 2026, should be
considered in conjunction with this management letter.
Prior Audit Findings
Section 10.554(1)(i)1., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we determine whether or not corrective
actions have been taken to address findings and recommendations made in the preceding financial audit
report. Corrective actions have been taken to address findings and recommendations made in the
preceding financial audit report.
Official Title and Legal Authority
Section 10.554(1)(i)4., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that the name or official title and legal
authority for the primary government and each component unit of the reporting entity be disclosed in this
management letter, unless disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. The official title and legal
authority for the City has been disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements. The City included the
following component units: Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (the “CRA”). The legal
authority that established the CRA is disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements.
Financial Condition and Management
Section 10.554(1)(i)5.a. and 10.556(7), Rules of the Auditor General, require us to apply appropriate
procedures and communicate the results of our determination as to whether or not the City has met one
or more of the conditions described in Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes, and to identify the specific
condition(s) met. In connection with our audit, we determined that the City did not meet any of the
conditions described in Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes.
133
Pursuant to Sections 10.554(1)(i)5.b., and 10.556(8), Rules of the Auditor General, we applied financial
condition assessment procedures for the City. It is management's responsibility to monitor the City's
financial condition, and our financial condition assessment was based in part on representations made by
management and the review of financial information provided by same.
Section 10.554(1)(i)2., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we communicate any recommendations
to improve financial management. In connection with our audit, we identified no recommendations to
improve financial management other than those discussed in the schedule of findings and responses.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs
As required by Section 10.554(1)(i)6.a., Rules of the Auditor General, the City did not operate within its
geographical boundaries, a PACE program authorized pursuant to Section 163.081 or Section 163.082,
Florida Statutes, during the fiscal year under audit.
As required by Section 10.554(1)(i)6.b., Rules of the Auditor General, there were no program
administrators or third-party administrators for a PACE program operating within the City’s geographical
boundaries. Therefore, no contact information has been provided for each such program administrator or
third-party administrator, as there were no applicable PACE programs.
Special District Component Units
Section 10.554(1)(i)5.c., Rules of the Auditor General, requires, if appropriate, that we communicate the
failure of a special district that is a component unit of a county, municipality, or special district, to provide
the financial information necessary for proper reporting of the component unit within the audited financial
statements of the county, municipality, or special district in accordance with Section 218.39(3)(b), Florida
Statutes. In connection with our audit, we did not note any special district component units that failed to
provide the necessary information for proper reporting in accordance with Section 218.39(3)(b), Florida
Statutes.
Specific Information
As required by Section 218.39(3)(c), Florida Statutes, and Section 10.554(1)(i)6, Rules of the Auditor
General, the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (the CRA) reported:
a) The total number of CRA employees compensated in the last pay period of the CRA’s fiscal year
as 4.
b) The total number of independent contractors to whom nonemployee compensation was paid in
the last month of the CRA’s fiscal year as 3.
c) All compensation earned by or awarded to employees, whether paid or accrued, regardless of
contingency as $520,280.
d) All compensation earned by or awarded to nonemployee independent contractors, whether paid
or accrued, regardless of contingency as $2,714,784.
e) Each construction project with a total cost of at least $65,000 approved by the CRA that is
scheduled to being on or after October 1 of the fiscal year being reported, together with the total
expenditures for such project as:
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) improvements – $75,000
Wayfinding Signage System - $75,000
Brooks Street Lighting Upgrades - $175,000
f) A budget variance based on the budget adopted under Section 189.016(4), Florida Statutes,
before the beginning of the fiscal year being reported if the CRA amends a final adopted budget
under Section 189.016(6), as $4,717,788.
134
The specific information reported in the previous paragraph has not been subjected to the auditing
procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements, and accordingly, we do not express an
opinion or provide any assurance on it.
Additional Matters
Section 10.554(1)(i)3., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address noncompliance with
provisions of contracts or grant agreements, or abuse, that have occurred, or are likely to have occurred,
that have an effect on the financial statements that is less than material, but which warrants the attention
of those charged with governance. In connection with our audit, we did not note any such findings.
Purpose of this Letter
Our management letter is intended solely for the information and use of the Legislative Auditing
Committee, members of the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Auditor
General, Federal and other granting agencies, the City Council, and applicable management, and is not
intended to be, and should not, be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
We greatly appreciate the assistance and cooperation extended to us during our audit.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
March 27, 2026
135