The City of Fort Walton Beach finalized its search for a new city manager Friday, signing an employment agreement with Jason Davis following the City Council’s approval of the contract earlier this week.
- Davis, who currently serves as Deputy County Administrator for St. Lucie County, will officially begin his duties on June 2, 2025, according to the employment agreement authorized by the City Council on April 22.
The agreement states Davis will receive an annual base salary of $220,000 paid in bi-weekly installments, along with benefits including medical, dental, and life insurance. He will also receive either a city-supplied vehicle or a $500 monthly vehicle allowance and a $100 monthly cell phone allowance.
Davis brings more than 20 years of public service experience to Fort Walton Beach. His career includes extensive work in Palm Beach County from 2007 to 2023, where he served as a division director managing 12,000 full-time employees with a budget of $7.8 billion. Since 2023, he has worked as Deputy County Administrator in St. Lucie County, overseeing a staff of 942 employees and a budget of $760 million.
In his application materials, Davis identified several challenges facing Fort Walton Beach, including managing growth and density, preparing for extreme weather events, fostering community engagement and trust, and handling large capital projects that require creative budget concepts.
- For his first six months on the job, Davis outlined plans to meet with city staff and stakeholders, take ownership of the strategic plan and associated budget, assess the city’s financial position and future trends, and review data analysis tools for potential efficiencies.
As for his reason for leaving his current position, Davis stated in his application, “I love the west coast of Florida and saw the opportunity. Opportunities like this do not come along very often… The possibility of working my next 30 years in Fort Walton Beach is too appealing for me not to apply.”
Davis holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University, as well as an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Florida State University.
“It’s an exciting time for our great city,” said Mayor Nic Allegretto on Friday afternoon. “As we enter a new chapter with our city’s newest leader, we look forward to working together to give our residents the best version of Fort Walton Beach!”
The city’s employment agreement includes a $5,000 relocation reimbursement, participation in the city’s retirement plan, and professional development opportunities. The contract specifies that Davis will serve at the pleasure of the City Council as an at-will employee.
Davis replaces the interim city manager, Dennis Reeves, who has been serving in the position while the city conducted its search.
