Judge Orders Rewrite Of Florida Property Tax Ballot Measure
August 5, 2026
The title and summary of a property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot contain political rhetoric and are misleading, and must be redrafted, a Leon Circuit Court judge ruled late Monday.
“Voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Judge David Frank wrote in his 18-page ruling. “The present ballot language would deprive the voters of the opportunity to make a meaningful decision.”
The proposal was drafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has toured the state slamming the spike in property tax revenues over the last six years by local governments. The measure increases the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and raises it to $250,000 in 2028. Another provision reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10 percent to 5 percent.
But before passing it the GOP-led Legislature changed the measure to carve out the portion of property tax bills that pay for public schools from the increase in the homestead exemption.
A spokeswoman for DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment Tuesday.
The ruling is a win for the groups that initially brought three different lawsuits against the proposed amendment before they were consolidated into one case.
Among those who brought the legal challenges were Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language, a nonprofit formed to challenge the proposal, Thomas Campenni, former Mayor of Stuart, and Michael Davey, former Mayor of Key Biscayne, former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, and former Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.
But the victory doesn’t mean the measure will be tossed from the ballot. Under state law, if the ruling isn’t appealed Attorney General James Uthmeier has 10 days to rewrite the ballot summary in line with Frank’s instructions.
“Our goal here right from the beginning was not to take this off the ballot,” Jamie Cole, attorney for Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language, told the News Service of Florida. “We want the voters to have the opportunity to make an informed decision and in order to do that they need fair and accurate language.”
At an event in Panama City Beach on Tuesday, Uthmeier told reporters he’s still evaluating the ruling but he supports property tax cuts.
“I want to give people property tax relief. I would like to see people find that relief,” Uthmeier said. “A lot of people are struggling. They are hurting. I am going to be voting for the amendment.”
Brandes noted the court faces a deadline near the end of the month to get the proper ballot language settled before November ballots are finalized, so any appeal could jeopardize the measure.
“It’s an option but we’ll see if the (Attorney General) exercises it, but they run into a real time crunch if they start doing that,” Brandes said.
In his ruling, Frank detailed specific changes that should be made to the ballot summary.
For example, after stating “this amendment benefits Florida taxpayers by:” the ballot summary uses the phrases “exempting homestead properties from taxation,” “ensuring funding for core services,” “protecting small businesses” and “ensuring fairness for Florida residents.”
None of those phrases should be used, the ruling states, as they are “political rhetoric, not neutral, not explanation.”
Frank also took issue with the ballot summary’s omission of how the measure could change the nature of the “home rule” provisions of the state constitution, which give local governments broad discretion to spend property tax revenues.
Under the proposed amendment, cities and counties would have their property tax spending restricted to a list of approved uses: “public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees, operations and administration and, except as prohibited by general law, other expenditures approved by county officers or county or municipal governing bodies.”
Critics of the proposal have argued that would give the Legislature, not local governments, the final say over their budgets.
“The amendment purports to change the constitutional baseline of city and county power by placing in the Constitution for the first time the Legislature’s right to control ad valorem tax spending,” Frank wrote.
by Gray Rohrer, The News Service of Florida
Century’s New ‘Backyard Apartment’, Tiny Home Rules Move Forward To Legal Review
August 5, 2026
The Town of Century is moving closer to modernizing its rules on backyard homes, shifting from its previous “Accessory Apartment” regulations to a newly drafted Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance.
Following guidance from town council workshops held in June and July, Emerald Coast Regional Council planner Eric Christianson submitted the draft update to Section 90-81 of the town’s Land Development Code. The proposed policy aims to expand housing options and support multigenerational living while protecting the character of residential neighborhoods.
Under the draft ordinance, property owners could construct up to one ADU on conforming lots where a primary home already exists. The draft allows ADUs in Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, Rural Residential, and Mixed Use categories. However, planners noted that explicit language in the town’s Comprehensive Plan is clearer for Low Density Residential and Medium Density Residential zones, meaning the inclusion of Rural Residential and Mixed Use properties will undergo special review by the town attorney.
Key structural and utility standards in the draft include:
Structure & Size: Units can be attached or detached, capped at a maximum of 700 square feet. ADUs cannot exceed the floor area or height of the main dwelling.
Separation & Setbacks: Detached units must maintain at least 10 feet of separation from the main house and sit in the rear yard. Roofline setbacks are set at five feet for attached structures and 10 feet for detached structures.
Utilities & Parking: Every ADU must have separate water, sewer, and electric meters, generating tap fee revenue for the town. Shared utility setups will be treated as standard home additions rather than ADUs. Each unit also requires one dedicated off-street parking space.
Strict Compliance: The ordinance explicitly prohibits any variances, waivers, or adjustments to these requirements.
The proposed ordinance now moves to legal review by the town attorney, while the regional council prepares an impact report assessing how the policy change will affect Century. Town council members will have the opportunity to review both reports and make further adjustments before scheduled public adoption hearings.
Christianson said Tuesday night that he estimated just over 450 parcels, about half of all parcels, in Century might qualify for an ADU. Once legal review is completed and the ordinance is complete, he places to present an impact report to the town council.
Pictured: A citizen addresses the Century Town Council on Tuesday night regarding a proposed implementation of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teachers Head Back To School In Escambia County (With Gallery)
August 5, 2026
Escambia County Public Schools teachers returned to school on Tuesday.
Many were welcomed back with a festive atmosphere or food, sponsored by school PTAs or local businesses.
The first day of school for students in Escambia County is Wednesday, August 12.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sex Offender Faces 20 New Felonies Including Registration Violations, Crimes Against Children
August 5, 2026
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement (MPOE) Division arrested Sebastian Christopher Ballensky, 22, on numerous felony charges. Ballensky is a registered sexual offender.
Ballensky is charged with two counts of failure to register an internet identifier, three counts of promoting the sexual performance of a child, 10 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), two counts of use of a computer to seduce, solicit, lure or entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, and three counts of transmission of materials harmful to minors.
In April, members of the MPOE Division assisted the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) in an interview with Ballensky to determine whether he had been in compliance with Florida’s registration laws. FDC subsequently located cocaine hidden within Ballensky’s residence and arrested him for violation of probation. Ballensky was booked into the Escambia County Jail. He was eventually transferred to the Holmes County Jail where his probation sentence had originated.
Further investigation by FDLE MPOE revealed Ballensky had allegedly used unreported Snapchat accounts to communicate with minors, as well as solicit and send them explicit content.
On July 28, FDLE obtained an arrest warrant for Ballensky and charged him with the previously mentioned felony offenses. Ballensky was still incarcerated in the Holmes County Jail for the April arrest.
FDLE’s Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement Division partners with sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal law enforcement across Florida to verify compliance with Florida’s registration laws for sex offenders, predators and career offenders.
Wahoos Walk Off Suspended Game, Fall 10-2 To Biscuits In Follow Up
August 5, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos ended up going 1-1 on Tuesday evening against the Montgomery Biscuits. The day started with the resumption of a suspended game that was started back on July 12th, and the Wahoos won that one in walkoff fashion 3-2. The regularly scheduled 9-inning contest went to the Biscuits by a final score of 10-2.
Before Pensacola could play a game that had been on the schedule since its release, they had to finish off a game that was suspended due to rain back in mid-July. Before the rain started to fall on that fateful day, the Wahoos and Biscuits were locked in a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 9th inning with a runner on second and one down. That’s exactly where the game picked up on Tuesday and the Wahoos stranded that runner on second.
In the top of the 10th inning, Jack Sellinger (W, 2-3) loaded the bases with nobody out, but induced a forceout, strikeout, and flyout to the Montgomery 2, 3, and 4 hitters to keep the game tied. In the bottom half, Jay Beshears would be the runner on second to start the inning and ended up scoring without the benefit of a batted ball. Two wild pitches from Tommy McCollum (L, 3-8) got Beshears to third and then home, giving the Wahoos a 3-2 walkoff victory, their fourth walkoff win of the year. Sellinger earned the win and McCollum earned the loss.
In “game 2” the Wahoos offense went stagnant. Biscuits starter Santiago Suarez (W, 6-3) continued his dominance over the ‘Hoos with 6.0 innings of one-run ball on eight hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. The lone run for Pensacola came on Ian Lewis Jr.’s 9th homer of the year, an opposite field shot over the left-center wall. However, it was already 4-0 by the time that homer came.
Montgomery put up 3 runs in the 4th off of Luis Palacios (L, 4-1), though all of them were unearned. An early throwing error from Cristian Hernández opened the door for the Biscuits, and Will Simpson knocked an RBI single into center. A batter later, Mac Horvath blooped a base hit into left-center field that snuck past both Brenan Jones and Emarrion Boyd. Horvath ended up at third with a two-run triple and a 3-0 lead.
In the 5th, Cooper Kinney got the best of Holt Jones with an RBI knock of his own. The score stayed 4-1 until four homers in the 8th and 9th innings increased the lead to 10-1 capped off by a three-run moonshot from Will Simpson.
Ian Lewis Jr. sent his 10th longball over the right field wall in the bottom of the 9th, his second multi-homer game of 2026. This, however, would be the end of the road for the Pensacola scoring, as Jonny Cuevas (S, 1) cemented the 10-2 victory. The Wahoos ended the day with a 56-47 record overall and 20-14 in the second half. The Biscuits now sit at 53-50 and 18-16.
The series continues on Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
First Look At The Design For New $10 Million Shelter In Century
August 4, 2026
We are getting a first look at the design for a new multimillion dollar community shelter in Century.
The Town of Century was awarded $10 million Florida Department of Commerce’s Rebuild Florida grant to turn the old Century High School gym property into a multipurpose facility that will also serve as a shelter during hurricanes or other disasters. Grant management was later redirected from the town to Escambia County.
The project has reached the 30% plan status showing the overall size, shape, orientation, and functional layout of the building, which retains the basic structure of the old gym and expands it. Plans show several new additions, including a large main lobby, an 812 square foot computer lab, two multipurpose rooms about 900 square foot each, a kitchen, two locker rooms, and offices and small flexible spaces. The structure will feature the complete rehabilitation of the gymnasium.
For more design images, and October 2025 photos of the Century High gym and property, click here.
Built in 1960 out of steel, concrete, and solid brick, the former Century High Blackcats gym has spent years being ravaged by time and vandals. Despite heavy interior damage, officials note the building remains remarkably resilient.
“It has good bones,” Century Mayor Ben Boutwell noted during a walkthrough last year. “With a steel frame and solid brick and concrete construction, it will make a good shelter.”
The remnants of the Century Kayo Stanton Football Stadium behind the gym will be demolished for safety reasons. The stadium was heavily damaged in an EF-3 tornado that struck Century on February 15, 2016. Century High School was closed and merged with Ernest Ward High School into the present-day Northview High School, which opened in 1995.
A timetable for finals plans and construction is not yet available.
Pictured: A first look at the design plants for a new community shelter in Century, building upon the structure of the former Century High School gym. Below are are photos of the gym from October 2025. Images for NorthEscambia.com, NorthEscambia.com photos.
Free Cantonment, Farm Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Set For Wednesday
August 4, 2026
A neighborhood cleanup for residents in Cantonment and Farm Hill are will take place this Wednesday, August 5. This is a chance for residents to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances and household waste free of charge. Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items for pickup should be at the curb by 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Items left at the curb outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. (Click map above to enlarge.)
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
- Yard debris (tree cuttings, branches, etc.)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
For questions,contact Escambia County Neighborhood and Human Services at (850) 595-3130.
Summer Lunch Program Continues This Week At the Molino and Century Libraries
August 4, 2026
The summer lunch program will continue through Friday, August 7, at the Century, Molino, Tryon, and Westside libraries.
Friday was the last day of the program at the Bellview, Pensacola, and Southwest libraries.
A special rural grab-and-go version of the program will be available this week at the Century and Molino library locations.
Disabled individuals 19 years of age and older who participate in a public or private non-profit program during the school year are also eligible to receive meals. This program is sponsored by Feeding the Gulf Coast.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Closures Begin This Week In $24 Million Jacks Springs Project North Of Atmore
August 4, 2026
The Poarch Creek Indians have secured a historic $24 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, marking the largest roadway construction grant in Tribal history. While the massive infrastructure investment promises long-term safety and modernization for Escambia County, Alabama, local drivers will face immediate travel disruptions starting this week.
The $4 million first phase of the expansive project is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 5, bringing temporary road closures to a heavily traveled section of Jack Springs Road north of Atmore.
According to Tribal officials, the road will be completely closed near Judson Cemetery from August 5 through August 10, 2026. A dedicated detour route will be implemented to guide motorists around the construction zone during this six-day window, and emergency responders, businesses, and local residents are urged to plan for delays and utilize alternate routes.
The overall initiative is a comprehensive, four-phase safety and infrastructure overhaul designed to improve travel conditions across a vital transportation corridor. Upgrades scheduled for the initial phase of construction include:
Lane Widening: Expanding the existing roadway to better accommodate commercial traffic and standard vehicles.
Paved Safety Shoulders: Adding new paved shoulders alongside the travel lanes.
Rumble Strips: Installing shoulder rumble strips to prevent run-off-road collisions.
Resurfacing: Complete repaving of the degraded driving surface.
Drainage Improvements: Upgrading infrastructure to reduce frequent flooding concerns in low-lying areas.
The entire four-phase modernization project is anticipated to span roughly two years, with a final completion target set for March 2028.
Atmore Man Dies Following Monday Afternoon Crash
August 4, 2026
An Atmore man has died following a single-vehicle crash Monday afternoon just north of the city.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), 70-year-old Larry Wright was critically injured around 4:45 p.m. on Monday, when his 2002 Buick LeSabre left the roadway and struck a ditch.
Authorities stated Wright was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
The crash occurred on Jack Springs Road near Smith Dairy Road, approximately one mile north of Atmore in Escambia County.
Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division are continuing to investigate the crash. No further details have been released at this time.