WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Walton County is set to spend more money building a new regional medical examiner’s office.

Walton County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County and Escambia County share the costs. The new office is expected to be located in Santa Rosa County. The current office is in Pensacola.

The new facility is expected to span 22,000 square feet, have seven autopsy stations and accommodate up to 75 bodies, more than double the space of the current facility.

THE initial agreement between the counties called for the development of a 21,865 square foot facility at a total estimated cost of $18.65 million.

NOW, the plan as the facility was changed to 22,000 square feet, and site work and construction costs would have been higher than originally anticipated, so each county is being asked to pay a little more. The total estimated cost is now $22.5 million.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, county commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the measure. The county has currently budgeted $1.9 million for the project in the 2025 fiscal year.

The cost increase would come from fiscal year 2026, increasing by $575,000 and increasing Walton County’s total contribution from $2,647,500 to $3,225,000.

The commissioners were concerned about paying a proportionate share and no more than was fair, but with the county’s population growing, it was agreed that the county would contribute a proportionate amount toward the facility.

“Walton County’s share would be 15 percent, which is about our caseload. It’s a little higher – we’re at about 11%,” Walton County Finance Director Melissa Thomason said. “But we are looking at a 30-year facility. And Walton County’s population and cases tend to increase at a somewhat faster rate overall than in other counties.

The installation is expected to be completed in 2026.

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