Privacy Statement

You may browse the Walton County budget website without creating an account or directly identifying yourself. This statement describes the information practices for this budget website, including the information collected automatically, the information stored on your device, and how Florida public-records requirements may apply. It does not apply to other Walton County websites or to third-party websites and services linked to or embedded in this site.

Information You Provide

Interactive budget tools operate within your browser and are designed to function without collecting information that directly identifies you. If you contact the Budget Office by email, telephone, or another method, the County receives the information you choose to provide.

Information Collected Automatically

This website is hosted through GitHub Pages. GitHub Pages and certain service providers used to deliver, secure, and measure the website may automatically receive standard technical and usage information generated by a visitor's browser. Depending on the provider, this may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, pages or resources requested, date and time of access, approximate location, and website-use events. Walton County may receive reports or other information made available by those providers for purposes such as securing the site, diagnosing technical issues, measuring use, and improving access to public budget information. Additional information about GitHub's practices is available in the GitHub Privacy Statement.

Service providers may maintain server logs for security, operational, fraud-prevention, troubleshooting, or diagnostic purposes according to their own retention practices.

Google describes how it processes IP addresses in its Privacy Policy and Google Analytics documentation. Reports made available to Walton County do not include visitors' full IP addresses.

Google Analytics. The County uses Google Analytics to obtain reports about site traffic and use. Google advertising signals and advertising-personalization signals are disabled for this website, and the page locations reported by the County's analytics configuration exclude URL query strings. The County does not use this service to sell personal information or deliver commercial advertising. Additional information is available in Google's Privacy Policy.

Cookies and Local Storage

Google Analytics may use cookies or similar technologies to distinguish visits and measure site activity. Certain website infrastructure or embedded third-party services may also use cookies or similar technologies necessary to deliver website functionality, improve security, or provide embedded content. The budget website uses browser local storage and similar browser-based storage features for limited local features, including your display-theme preference, recent budget-search terms, and whether you have chosen to hide the optional website guide. These values are stored locally in your browser and remain on your device until you clear them or your browser removes them.

You can limit cookies or clear stored website data through your browser settings, although doing so may reset saved preferences. You may also install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Browser privacy settings and content blockers may limit analytics collection.

How Information Is Used

Information collected through this website may be used to:

• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the budget website
• Understand which budget information is most useful to visitors
• Identify usability, accessibility, or technical issues
• Respond to questions or requests submitted to the County
• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and public-records obligations

Walton County does not sell personal information collected through this budget website and does not use it to deliver commercial advertising.

Florida Public Records

Walton County is subject to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution. Records made or received by Walton County in connection with the transaction of official business are public records unless exempt or confidential under applicable law. Whether a particular record is subject to disclosure depends on applicable law. The County cannot promise confidentiality for information submitted to it when Florida law requires disclosure.

Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

This notice is provided pursuant to section 668.6076, Florida Statutes. Do not submit Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial-account information, medical information, passwords, or other sensitive information through this website or ordinary email.

Service Providers and Embedded Content

The site's domain registration and Domain Name System services are managed through Squarespace, while the website itself is hosted by GitHub Pages. GitHub Pages receives the requests necessary to deliver the website to visitors. Certain pages may load content or services provided by third-party providers, including Google, YouTube, Esri ArcGIS, jsDelivr, Supabase, or the Walton County Library System. When embedded content or another third-party resource loads, the applicable provider may receive technical information and may use cookies or similar technologies under its own privacy terms. The County does not control the independent privacy practices of those providers.

The County may disclose information as required by law, in response to a valid public-records request or legal process, to protect County systems and users, or to investigate suspected misuse. The County does not disclose information to third parties for their independent commercial advertising.

Links to Other Websites

This website links to County departments, other government agencies, document services, and third-party websites. Those sites have their own privacy practices. Walton County encourages visitors to review the privacy statement of each external site they use.

Visitors with accessibility questions or accommodation requests may review the County's Accessibility Statement for assistance.

Information Security and Retention

The County uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information under its control. No website, internet transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Information under County control is retained and disposed of in accordance with applicable records-retention schedules approved by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, together with litigation holds, operational requirements, and other legal obligations. Service providers may retain information according to their contracts, legal duties, and published retention practices. Visitors are responsible for maintaining the security of their own devices, browsers, and Internet connections.

Changes to This Statement

This statement may be revised when website practices, service providers, or legal requirements change. The current statement will be posted on this page. This statement is informational only and does not create contractual rights or waive any right, duty, immunity, or defense available under applicable law. Nothing in this Privacy Statement limits or modifies Walton County's rights, duties, or obligations under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Contact

Questions about this budget website or this statement may be directed to:

Walton County Office of Management and Budget
176 Montgomery Circle
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Phone: (850) 892-8470
Email: budget@mywaltonfl.gov

Public-records requests for the Walton County Board of County Commissioners may be directed to the County's custodian of public records:

Walton County Office of the County Attorney
161 E. Sloss Avenue
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
Phone: (850) 892-8110
Email: publicrecords@co.walton.fl.us