Mary Esther mayor: Annex Hurlburt

MARY ESTHER - A proposal to annex a roughly 3-mile stretch of Hurlburt Field is Mayor Chuck Bolton's plan to make his city larger.

The Air Force seems to be listening.

"The city of Mary Esther needs more citizens. We need them," Bolton said Wednesday. "We have no way to grow, so we can increase our share" of state revenue.

Bolton's proposal, an attempt to boost Mary Esther's census numbers and thus its dollars, has been in talks for months. In April, he submitted an official request to the Air Force, which eventually responded with a list of questions.

Among them: Is anyone opposed?

Two upcoming public forums may answer that, but Bolton said Wednesday the plan was "so simple and logical" that no one has objected.

Officials at Eglin Air Force Base on Wednesday were "neutral on the proposal but have worked with Mary Esther to gather the necessary information to submit a complete package for Air Staff consideration," according to Public Affairs Chief of Operations Chrissy Cuttita.

The land sought for annexation stretches from the western edge of Mary Esther past Hurlburt's main gate to Fallin Waters Drive. About 2,000 people live in base housing and barracks on the land, Bolton said.

No non-military property is included in the current annexation plans.

Under Bolton's plan, the city would not assume any new services or maintenance duties.

But with 2,000 more people to its credit, Bolton estimated the city would be eligible for an additional $350,000 in state revenue-sharing money.

The new city residents would not pay city taxes and the city would not license Hurlburt contractors or lessees.

"If they want to build a house on the runway, we don't care," Bolton said. The only additional responsibility: "We'll have to mail out more public notices each month," he said.

"This is a military installation and would not be subject to any of the requirements the city of Mary Esther imposes on its contractors or residents," the city wrote in its response to Air Force's questions. Read more from those documents here »

However, the new residents could vote in city elections and run for City Council and mayor.

Mary Esther's population is about 4,500 now. In budgeting for its next five years, Bolton said he expects the federal government's taxes to rise along with its obligations - and for cities such as his to hike ad valorem taxes.

"There's no need for a telethon today, but in doing responsible five-year planning ... Now is a time you have to assume the negative and hope the positive turns out," he said.

Bolton cited three precedents for annexation: Eglin's east gate in Valparaiso, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, N.C.

After two public hearings, straw votes and three months of public input, the City Council will vote on the proposal, Bolton said. There will be no referendum.

Bolton hopes to field a resolution from the Okaloosa County Commission and a letter of support from officials involved in Eglin's Joint Land Use Study. He also hopes to have a decision from Air Force command by the end of the year.

Beyond the Hurlburt annexation, the city also could be open to annexing more land of west of the base along U.S. Highway 98.

"The annexation of Hurlburt Field is our F-35," Bolton said. "It's a firewall to protect our citizens."

WANT TO ATTEND?

Hurlburt Field airmen, their families and residents of west Okaloosa County are invited to discuss Mary Esther Mayor Bolton's plan July 9, at Florosa Elementary School. Another meeting will be held at Hurlburt Field but is not scheduled yet.