The Northwest Florida Daily News reports that Okaloosa County commissioners have reduced their property tax rate to make it the second-lowest millage rate in Florida – 3.28. The Escambia County millage rate is 6.976—more than double.
Okaloosa County does have an MSTU for its unincorporated areas of 0.18. Escambia County has had for years a Law Enforcement MSTU that is currently 0.685.
Okaloosa has fewer people – 179,693 to 302,939 in Escambia – and a substantial part of Okaloosa’s 936 sq. miles is covered by its two military bases.