Aug 15, 2014, 14:59 by myEscambia Admin

First approved by Escambia County voters in March 1992, the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) places an additional one percent sales tax on most retail purchases in Escambia County. Voters supported extending LOST in 1997 and again in 2006. Each round of LOST is in place for 10 years with the current round expiring in 2017.\r\n\r\nUnlike most revenue sources available to local governments, everyone in the County and its visitors contribute to LOST through the purchase of goods and services, however, not all purchases are subject to LOST. Necessary daily items like food, medicine, mortgage payments, house rental fees and car payments are exempt. Also, only the $5,000 of a single large purchase is subject to the one-cent tax.\r\n\r\nVoter support of LOST since its inception has allowed the County to support much needed improvements to our community without significant increases to property taxes, which would shift the burden of the cost of these services to property owners.\r\n\r\nA 2012 study conducted by the University of West Florida Haas Center estimated that out-of-town visitors pay approximately 25 percent of the sales tax collected in Escambia County each year, which means that approximately $9 million of the roughly $35 million collected last year in LOST revenue was not paid by County residents.\r\n\r\nAll revenue generated from LOST can only be used for specific projects authorized by voter referendum and ordinance, as governed by Florida law. Examples of the types of expenses allowed under LOST are: transportation improvements, including bridges and dirt road paving; sidewalk construction; drainage projects; sidewalks; enhancements to library and community centers; public safety improvements, including the purchase of emergency vehicles; development of recreational facilities; economic development infrastructure initiatives; protection of natural resources and improvements to County court facilities. \r\n\r\nBy the end of LOST III in December 2017, more than half of Escambia COunty Revenues, or more than $215 million, will be spent to construct new highways and drainage throughout the County. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office will benefit from LOST to the tune of $58.5 million, while investments in fire services and other public safety functions will top$62 million. More than $215 million will be used to build and maintain public facilities and more than $3 million will be used to support the court system.

Aug 15, 2014, 13:40 by myEscambia Admin

UF/IFAS Extension Gulf Coast Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises will host Fall Tomato School on multiple dates in September and October at the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, 4253 Experiment Road, Highway 182, Jay.

Aug 15, 2014, 13:29 by myEscambia Admin

East Chase Street between North Florida Blanca to 9th Avenue is closed as ECUA crews repair a sewer main, which was damaged by the flooding event of April 29.\r\n\r\nUpdates will be posted on the ECUA website at www.ecua.fl.gov as work progresses and information becomes available.\r\n

Aug 15, 2014, 13:24 by myEscambia Admin

A Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) occurred yesterday, Thursday, August 14, on 100 East Kingfield Road at 11 Mile Creek (Lift Station 186), that is estimated at 3,000 gallons.

Aug 14, 2014, 19:43 by myEscambia Admin

Below is a listing of upcoming meetings for the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). All meetings are held in the Board Chambers, first floor, 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola.

Aug 14, 2014, 16:25 by myEscambia Admin

The Resources, Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies (RESTORE) Advisory Committee Workshop scheduled for Monday, September 8, has been moved from its regular location and will take place at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, room 104, from 4 to 7 p.m.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Aug 13, 2014, 15:35 by myEscambia Admin

The Board of County Commissioners’ (BCC) Committee of the Whole Workshop (COW) originally scheduled for Thursday, October 16, has been cancelled. \r\nThe regular BCC Meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, October 23, has been moved and will now take place at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 16. Public Forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. prior to the 9 a.m. regular BCC Meeting.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Aug 13, 2014, 15:13 by myEscambia Admin

Enjoy and explore the many outdoor opportunities Escambia County has to offer with your family this summer at parks, campgrounds, community centers, lakes and more. Click here to view the Parks and Community Centers matrix from MyEscambia.com to choose which park you would like to visit based on its amenities, such as walking trails, picnic tables, pavilions, boat ramps and dog parks.

Aug 12, 2014, 15:53 by myEscambia Admin

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension agents are hosting multiple discussions targeted to home and property owners interested in changes made recently to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and realtors seeking resources to assist buyers and sellers.

Aug 12, 2014, 15:49 by myEscambia Admin

Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, August 13, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., an FDOT maintenance contractor crew will clean and patch the northbound inside lane of the overpass bridge on Highway 29 (State Road 95) at Interstate 10 eastbound.\r\n\r\n

Aug 12, 2014, 14:06 by myEscambia Admin

Due to traffic and safety concerns in the Perdido Key area, Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) is cancelling Route 65 Big Lagoon Connector / Perdido Key Service during the Kenny Chesney concert on Saturday, August 16.

Aug 11, 2014, 20:34 by myEscambia Admin

The regularly scheduled August 14 Escambia County Board of County Commissioners’ Committee of the Whole Workshop has been rescheduled to tomorrow, Tuesday, August 12.

Aug 11, 2014, 19:49 by myEscambia Admin

A precautionary boil water notice (PBWN) has been issued for ECUA customers residing on Gulf Beach Highway (address range 11904 to 12156). The notice also includes customers residing on Longwood Drive, Longwood Court and Sage Avenue.

Aug 11, 2014, 16:09 by myEscambia Admin

A short-term lane closure began this morning in District 3 on Bush Street, west of the intersection of Ridebrook Court, due to an emergency repair of a pipe crossing. Traffic will be open to property owners to access.\r\nRoad work will take place through Friday, August 15, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.\r\n

Aug 11, 2014, 15:36 by myEscambia Admin

The Governmental Facilities Leasing Corporation Board of Directors meeting will hold a special meeting, Wednesday, August 13, 10 a.m., Beach Community Bank, 33 West Garden Street.\r\n\r\nPlease contact Steve Del Gallo at (850) 232-8337 with any questions.\r\n

Aug 11, 2014, 14:02 by myEscambia Admin

Join Escambia County’s Department of Community Affairs for Play, Learn, Grow a summer feeding and summer activity program. The program will run through Friday, August 8.

Aug 8, 2014, 21:37 by myEscambia Admin

Drivers traveling Interstate 10 (I-10) between I-110 (mile marker 12) and U.S. 29 (mile marker 10) will encounter speed limit reductions, lane closures and lane shifts beginning Monday, August 11, through Monday, August 18. \r\n\r\n

Aug 8, 2014, 21:29 by myEscambia Admin

The eastbound Interstate 10 (I-10) ramp to southbound U.S. 29 will be closed from 10 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, to 6 a.m. on Monday, August 11, as crews mill and resurface the roadway. Motorists will be directed to use the northbound U.S. 29 ramp during the temporary closure. \r\n\r\nThe outside eastbound lane of I-10 at U.S. 29 will be closed from 10 p.m. on Monday, August 11, to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, as crews pave the outside shoulder. \r\n

Aug 8, 2014, 21:16 by myEscambia Admin

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will replace the existing two lane bridge on Brickyard Road over Unnamed Branch beginning the week of Monday, August 11. \r\n\r\n

Aug 7, 2014, 20:18 by myEscambia Admin

A precautionary boil water notice (PBWN) has been issued for ECUA customers residing in the 10 thousand block of Vixen Place after repairs to a water main were completed.