The Palm Coast City Council moved to tighten its Land Development Code to protect golf course viewsheds from development, specifically targeting areas around the old Matanzas Woods Golf Course for protection. There was intense resident opposition against a developer’s plan to build 39 homes on a protected tract at the old gold course when presented at a neighborhood meeting in April. The proposed code changes aim to make view protections permanent, setting up a potential legal battle over property rights.
Economy
Palm Coast Mayor Norris Calls for ‘Austerity Budget’ as Council Grapples with Downturn and Homestead Upheaval Ahead
Palm Coast City Council members will consider an austerity budget resolution to prepare for sharp revenue losses from a proposed Florida homestead exemption amendment and this year’s slight downturn in property values. Existing city property values dropped over one percent, prompting discussions of a potential hiring freeze. Residential properties generate 90 percent of local tax revenue. Construction growth is generating enough revenue to keep the budget growing slightly.
July 3 and 4 Celebration of 250th Anniversary from Flagler Beach Parade to Palm Coast Fireworks at County Airport
Flagler County Government and the Cities of Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, and Bunnell invite all Flagler County residents and visitors to the 2026 United Flagler Community Celebration on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, this time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration and American independence. It’ll start with First Friday in Flagler Beach and culminate with a 15-16 minute firework show featuring thousands of shells at the county airport. All events are free.
County Commissioners Berate Some Constitutionals More Than Others Over Their Budgets as Austerity Era Begins
Flagler County constitutional officers such as the clerk of court, the sheriff and the property appraiser face a grueling budget cycle amid stalled revenues and a looming November ballot amendment to eliminate homesteaded property taxes. In an afternoon workshop today, county commissioners aggressively challenged proposed budget increases from the clerk of court and property appraiser. In response to future shortfalls, Commission Chair Leann Pennington directed the acting administrator to model sweeping 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts.
Marineland Officials Stunned by an Unauthorized Attempt to Sell Private Boat Slips in the Town’s Marina for $195,000
A boater shocked Marineland town commissioners by reporting an unauthorized salesman offering to sell her a marina boat slip for $195,000. JDI Development owns six of the public marina’s boat slips, which may legally be sold. The surprise solicitation emerged just as commissioners prepared to clarify JDI Marineland’s 2009 lease.
Texas County Rescinds Its Data Center Moratorium After $100 Million Lawsuit from Developer
A rural North Texas county that appears to be the first in the state to pass a data center moratorium has rescinded the measure after being sued by a developer for $100 million in damages. It had approved the moratorium of up to a year just two weeks earlier. Flagler and Nassau counties and Palm Coast are considering enacting moratoriums on data center development pending updates of each government’s land-use code.
Florida’s Bathtub Hoax on Homesteaded Taxpayers
The Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to expand the homestead tax exemption is a hoax that claims the homesteaded are overtaxed and local governments are wasteful. The proposal, if it passes, threatens to severely cripple local government budgets, starving infrastructure, emergency medical responses, social programs, and community safety initiatives. Homeowners will ultimately absorb higher out-of-pocket costs for neglected public services. The current system already unfairly shifts tax burdens onto local businesses and renters.
Sen. Rick Scott Wants Kanye West’s Tampa Concerts Cancelled
A public stadium shouldn’t host rapper and producer Kanye West, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said. In a letter to the Tampa Sports Authority, the government organization that operates Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Scott urged the authority board to “carefully review this decision” of hosting the rapper, for shows June 26 and 28.
As County Throws More Cold Water on 22,000-Home ‘Western Expansion,’ Developer Defends Retreat from Previous Commitments
Raydient’s plan to develop 22,000 housing units on 22,000 acres wet of U.S. 1 in Palm Coast continues to draw criticism as it did last Monday at the County Commission, and previously from members of the Palm Coast City Council. On WNZF’s Free For All Friday this morning, Mike Hahaj, the director of commercial development and operations for Raydient, addressed some of the issues in contention.
NE Florida Regional Council Declares Data Centers Regional Issue on Andy Dance’s Motion, Empowering Local Governments
The Northeast Florida Regional Council unanimously voted to designate data center growth as an official regional issue on Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance’s motion at a meeting in Jacksonville this morning. The move unlocks planning, legal, and economic resources for seven member counties and two dozen cities that are members of the council, including palm Coast and Flagler County, which are working toward a data center moratorium. Governments face challenges balancing heavy utility demands and environmental impacts against regional economic development.
Commissioner Kim Carney Accuses CFO Ingoglia of Using Flagler as ‘Campaign Crutch’ as He Peddles Unproven Claims of Waste
The Flagler County Commission directed its administration to draft an official rebuttal countering claims by CFO Blaise Ingoglia, of $59 million in local government waste. The accusations rely on a misleading formula deployed statewide as a campaign tactic as Ingoglia uses counties like Flagler as a “crutch” in his campaign, Commissioner Kim Carney said. Flagler commissioners defended budget growth, citing necessary investments, including the restoration of required emergency cash reserves.
Palm Coast Joins Flagler County in Considering 1-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers to Rewrite Rules
Driven by concerns over data centers’ electricity and water consumption and their impacts on the environment and quality of life, the Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday joined the County Commission in a planned year-long moratorium on new data centers to update land-use codes. Existing regulations lack protections against high-impact facilities. A temporary moratorium provides breathing room to study infrastructure limits.
Flagler County and City Officials Warn of Severe Cuts to Government Services if Voters Approve Measure to Cut Homestead Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a constitutional amendment ballot measure scaling back homesteaded property taxes and capping non-homesteaded property valuations. Flagler County faces a projected first-year loss of $35 million, climbing to $60 million in year two. Local administrators and elected officials warn that this shifting tax structure will trigger severe, programmatic budget cuts for essential municipal services, including parks, libraries, and animal control, and speak with dismay at lawmakers’ silence on alternative funding sources.
East Flagler Mosquito Control District Collects Over 1400 Tires During Amnesty Days
The East Flagler Mosquito Control District (EFMCD) collected 1,441 tires during its Tire Amnesty Days event May 29-31, marking it the most successful collection in the program’s history.
Vetoes Are Next as Lawmakers Shift from $114.5 Billion Budget to Special Session on Eliminating Property Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a $114.5 billion state budget only to immediately face a special session to debate Gov. Ron DeSantis’s controversial homestead property tax exemption proposal. He’s expected to use his veto power as leverage.
Float Registration Now Open, for Just $40, for Flagler Beach’s July 4 Parade Celebrating 250th
The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach invites residents, visitors, local businesses, and community organizations to celebrate Independence Day—and America’s 250th birthday—at the Flagler Beach Fourth of July Parade on Saturday, July 4, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Flagler Beach. Float registration is now open for $40.
Property Values Fall For 1st Time In 14 Years in Palm Coast and Flagler, Excluding New Construction, Posing Tax Dilemma
Average taxable property values in Flagler County fell in 2026 for the first time in fourteen years outside of new construction. The drop signals a cooling housing market and directly impacts local government budgets. Local governments would now have to raise tax rates marginally to maintain current revenue levels. New construction remains a lifeline that prevents severe budget shortfalls and keeps total county tax collections stable overall.
Palm Coast Postpones Inaugural Beats & Eats
Due to the forecast for inclement weather, the City of Palm Coast has postponed tonight’s inaugural Beats & Eats event at The Stage in Town Center. The event is rescheduled for June 18.
Chick-fil-A, Ellianos, Now Taco Bell: Palm Coast Appears to Have a Fast-Food Solo Fetish on Its Hands
A 28-year-old man was jailed this morning on a $5,000 bond following his arrest for public indecent exposure at the door of the Taco Bell on State Road 100 in Palm Coast after a witness spotted him in a recognizably solo act just past midnight. The incident marks the third public masturbation or exposure arrest in Palm Coast in less than a month.
DeSantis Plan to Eliminate Homesteaded Property Tax Would Hit Public Safety, Schools, Health and Local Governance
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced his plan for a homestead property tax exemption that could crimp local governments’ ability to fund schools, health care, and public safety. Simultaneously, he called for lawmakers to return to Tallahassee and address his plan in a three-day special session starting Monday.
Two Hospitalized Following Violent Road Rage Argument and Shooting at Palm Coast McDonald’s Drive-Thru
A road rage dispute originating on Belle Terre Parkway escalated into a shooting late Tuesday night at a Palm Coast McDonald’s drive-thru. Three individuals exited their vehicles during a secondary argument as a 50-year-old man shot a 61-year-old multiple times with a small-caliber weapon. Flagler County Sheriff’s detectives impounded two vehicles to gather evidence. The investigation remains active without immediate arrests.
Missing Documents and Unsigned Grievances Prompt Flagler Beach to Seek Dismissal of Whistleblower Lawsuit
Flagler Beach filed a motion to dismiss a whistleblower lawsuit by former Facilities Director Bryan Moisao. The city defines his claims as routine personnel friction rather than protected disclosures. Procedural errors plague the complaint as Moisao failed to attach required documents or sign the allegations. The complaint echoes grievances made by a current and former commissioner against the city manager.
Flagler Cares Achieves National COA Accreditation With Flawless Ratings Across All Areas
Flagler Cares achieved national accreditation through COA Accreditation after a nine-month evaluation process. The human services nonprofit received zero negative findings and earned top marks across all evaluated programs. This prestigious validation enhances the agency’s standing among grant funders in a competitive environment and coincides with the organization celebrating 10 years of serving individuals throughout Flagler and 25 in Volusia county.
Flagler County Unemployment Rate Climbs to 5.5% As Florida’s Exceeds Nation’s for First Time Since 2020
Flagler County unemployment rose to 5.5 percent in April, matching a statewide upward trend as Florida’s unemployment rate hit 4.8 percent, surpassing the national average for the first time since 2020. Rising inflation, high interest rates, and the Iran war appears to have ended an era of historic low unemployment. Florida consumer confidence fell for a second consecutive month.
Florida Legislative Leaders Strike Final Deal On $115 Billion State Budget, Ignoring Mismanagement of School Vouchers
House and Senate leaders reached a final deal on the state budget late Sunday night, the last step in an extended process that required a special session to complete for the second year in a row. The spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 will be nearly $115 billion, less than the Senate’s preferred budget but not the $113.6 billion plan preferred by the House.
At New Station 26 in Seminole Woods, an Emotional Grand Opening of Palm Coast’s First New ‘Firehouse‘ in 20 Years
Palm Coast celebrated the grand opening of the $12 million Fire Station 26 in Seminole Woods, marking the city’s first new firehouse in 20 years. The facility features advanced design elements to support firefighter well-being and faster response times. The ceremony was unwittingly themed around the meaning of family and hearth in firehouses. Flagler County cannot currently spare an ambulance for the station. Palm Coast crews will provide advanced life support until county transport units arrive.
Proposed Bulow Creek Park Transformation Estimated to Cost Flagler County Up to $40 Million
Flagler County commissioners reviewed plans to transform 1,160 acres around Bulow Creek into a regional park and learned that it could cost between $28 million and $40 million. The project features a 2.6-mile paved trail connecting to State Road 100 alongside unpaved paths, picnic areas, and kayak launches. Design costs were covered by the state. Funding for the actual park construction remains completely unsecured at this stage.
How to Pair Wine Like a Sommelier: Beginner-Friendly Tips
Wine pairing requires no special knowledge. Sommeliers have several simple rules that anyone can follow with some basic information, and you do not need to be a master or have a quality wine cellar to find the perfect wine for your best dish. Master the basic principles of balance‚ flavor, and texture, and wine pairing will become a natural and enjoyable accompaniment to every meal.
Gas Station and Convenience Store Will Replace Iconic But Long Closed White Eagle Lounge on U.S. 1
Closed for many years, the White Eagle Lounge on U.S. 1, which had a storied history as one of Flagler County’s oldest bars and was a biker favorite, will soon give way to gas station and convenience store. The county’s Planning Board recommended the required land use changes last week and the County Commission approved the elimination of a nearly century-old plat. The deteriorated White Eagle building itself will be demolished.
Marineland’s Last Remaining Taxpayer Readies to Sell Land Holdings, Putting Town’s Future in Doubt
Jim Jacoby, the only private land-holder paying property taxes in Marineland, has reached a tentative agreement to sell all but one of his parcels to Flagler County, the University of Florida and the Department of Environmental Protection. The parties have been working on a deal since mid-2025. If and when the land acquisitions go through, Marineland would lose all property tax revenue and may no longer function as a town. It may have to be absorbed under the county’s governance.
Palm Coast Repeat Offender Faces Felony Indecent Exposure Charge for Pulling Self-Brew at Ellianos Coffee
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cory Alan White Jr., 29, for allegedly exposing himself to employees at an Ellianos Coffee drive-up window in Palm Coast. White faces a third-degree felony charge due to a previous 2023 misdemeanor indecent exposure conviction.
Palm Coast Council Counters Fears Over Town Center Data Center: It Is Not a Water and Power-Guzzling AI Facility
Palm Coast council members are reassuring residents that the 35,000-square-foot DC Blox data center in Town Center is an internet cable landing station rather than a resource-heavy artificial intelligence center. The project advanced through administrative approvals without public oversight. It will nevertheless become the city’s largest electricity consumer.
FlaglerLive Editor Calls Libel Lawsuit by Former Commissioner Joe Mullins a SLAPP Suit
Former Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins filed a libel lawsuit against FlaglerLive and its editor, Pierre Tristam, over articles documenting Mullins’s controversial public behavior and financial troubles. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Anthony Sabatini. FlaglerLive stands by its documented reporting, labels the case a prohibited SLAPP suit, and maintains that the evidence speaks for itself.
Governor Ron DeSantis Renews Push To Slash Florida Property Taxes Despite Republican Opposition
Governor Ron DeSantis renewed his push to slash Florida property taxes during a Monday roundtable in Brevard County. He plans to call a summer special session to put constitutional amendments on the November ballot. Former Governor Rick Scott criticized the plan due to missing revenue replacement strategies.
Strict No Development Policy Continues For Flagler Estates As County Rejects Special Taxing District
The Flagler County Commission unanimously rejected proposals to permit development, fund infrastructure improvements or establish a special taxing district in Flagler Estates, the inaccessible subdivision platted on sheer speculation decades ago in the northwest part of the county. Officials denied a private funding offer for basic road maintenance and ordered劇stricter law enforcement to curb rampant trespassing, weekend partying and ATV mudding.
John Cunningham Wants Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin on Probation Until Next Evaluation
Flagler Beach City Commissioner John Cunningham attempted to block the automatic contract renewal of City Manager Dale Martin and place him on probation pending his next evaluation in August. The motion died for lack of a second, but Cunningham plans to file an agenda item to discuss the contract terms at the next commission meeting on May 28, opening a point of vulnerability for Martin despite solid performance evaluations.
Flagler Beach Will Seek Bids for Paid Parking System as It Parallels Past Decades of Idle Talk
After talking about it for three decades, and 11 years after a committee that had met for two years had recommended it, Flagler Beach is about to issue a request for qualified companies to propose a paid parking system for the city. The request will be issued on June 1. Flagler Beach residents would be exempt. Palm Coast residents, who account for the majority of visitors to the island, would not be. City Commissioners stress that this is still the investigative phase and that there are no done deals.
Advocates of Huge Taxpayer Subsidies for Private Education Call Voucher Lawsuit ‘Frivolous’
The state education commissioner and “school choice” advocates have clapped back at the Florida Education Association’s lawsuit alleging the state’s school voucher program is unconstitutional. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas during a Florida Board of Education meeting in Miami Thursday said the union “continues to waste members’ dues and taxpayer dollars on litigation that does nothing to advance student achievement or strengthen our schools.”
Judge Deals All But Fatal Blow to Chelsea Herbert Suit Challenging Bunnell’s 1,259-Acre Industrial Rezoning
Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch today denied a motion for an extension to amend a petition filed by Bunnell resident Chelsea Herbert seeking to quash the industrial rezoning of 1,259 acres in Bunnell. The judge ruled the initial filing was a bare-bones document intended to circumvent 30-day jurisdictional deadlines. The decision complicates the legal challenge as settlement negotiations continue.
Pontieri: Unleashing the Private Sector Is the Conservative Solution to the Palm Coast Housing Squeeze
Flagler County and Palm Coast face a housing squeeze making it difficult for lower-income, elderly and other groups to overcome rental or mortgage burdens. But government interventions are not the way, argues Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, as they distort market incentives and unfairly shift infrastructure costs onto existing taxpayers. True affordability requires cutting regulatory red tape and fostering economic growth to raise local wages.
Palm Coast Mayor Norris Turns Loop Road Groundbreaking Into Lashing of Western Expansion and Developer
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris surprised attendees at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning by lashing into the $125 million loop road project connecting Matanzas Woods Parkway with Palm Coast Parkway, and into Raydient, the developer, attacking it for not shouldering its share of infrastructure funding. Norris discarded his prepared remarks to criticize the environmental impact on wetlands and the financial burden on local taxpayers. Council members Charles Gambaro and Ty Miller rebuked the mayor for his timing.
Diagnosing Alarming Deficit in Road Repair Bill, City Director Tells Palm Coast Council: You Did This
In a remarkably gutsy moment at the end of his presentation on the city’s deteriorating road system, Carl Cote, the city’s director of stormwater and engineering, reminded the council of how it has been reducing the tax rate for successive years since 2021. “In lieu of the rollbacks that council had done since then, if that was dedicated to resurfacing, that would be an additional $8.5 million we’d have in that program today,” Cote said. The program, in other words, would have been fully funded instead of facing a gaping deficit.
AdventHealth Palm Coast Earns Top Quality Rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
AdventHealth Daytona Beach, AdventHealth Fish Memorial and AdventHealth Palm Coast each earned five stars, placing them among the top-performing hospitals in the country, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Council Rejects Affordable Housing Recommendations, Saying It Doesn’t Want to Alter Palm Coast’s ‘Character’
The Palm Coast City Council reviewed a sobering housing assessment identifying significant affordability gaps for working residents but rejected several strategies and narrowed the focus toward senior housing, exposing a deep divide between itself and its Affordable Housing Committee, if not its own administration. Advocates criticized the limited approach for ignoring the needs of teachers and first responders. Future expansion plans suggest a continued reliance on single-family homes, deepening a lack of diversity.
Palm Coast Council Will Join State Program Focused on Protecting Historical and Cultural Assets Citywide
Palm Coast City Council members agreed to draft an ordinance seeking inclusion in Florida’s Certified Local Government Program, which creates a partnership between federal, state, and local governments to evaluate and protect historic properties. The designation allows the city to access grant funding for preservation efforts citywide. Though 88 Florida cities and counties are part of the program, not a single Flagler County entity is. The efoort was spurred by concerns over Palm Coast’s westward expansion.
Atlantic Red Snapper Season Expanded to 39 Days, from 2 Last Year
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday revealed there will be a 39-day red snapper fishing season in the Atlantic coast this year, an expansion from the two days allowed last year. The longer fishing season was due to a switch from federal management of the waters off Florida’s east coast for red snapper to state management.
Palm Coast City Manager McGlothlin Postpones Raydient Development Review as It Needs ‘More Work’
Two weeks before the proposed Raydient order to develop 22,000 homes west of U.S. 1 was to go before the city’s Planning Board, Palm Coast City Manager Mike McGlothlin said today that the whole process is being postponed to allow for better vetting. He did not provide a new timeline though one may be issued next week. The development’s new proposal includes industrial set-asides for animal feed lots and livestock operations, the deep well injection of waste products, dog, hog and poultry farms, and incinerator plants.
At Palm Coast Manager Mike McGlothlin’s Coffee Talk with Residents, It’s About Growth, Traffic and Westward Ho
Palm Coast City Manager Mike McGlothlin hosted his third monthly coffee chat at St. Joe’s Plaza this morning as residents raised pointed concerns regarding the expansion westward, traffic congestion, speedsters on Woodbury Drive, and infrastructure issues. McGlothlin maintains a congenial rapport with the public in a session free of acrimony even as it was rich in pointed questions and comments.
Flagler Beach Planning Board Member Had Explicitly Asked Pastor if He Had Shopping Center’s Permission for Church
When the church was seeking a special zoning exception from the city, a brief exchange between a Flagler Beach Planning Board member and Roderick Palmer, the pastor of Coastal Family Church, all but anticipated the lawsuit Palmer has been battling since January. The board member had asked Palmer explicitly, twice, if he had permission from the shopping center’s property association to run a church at Flagler Square. The answer was non-committal.
New Baseball League Coming to Palm Coast, But Council Delays Signing Off Over Sports Complex Concerns
The Palm Coast City Council tabled a contract for the newly formed Orange State League to use the Indian Trails Sports Complex this summer as concerns emerged about field availability and potential conflicts with the Palm Coast Little League regarding concession rights and maintenance responsibilities. The administration will clarify legal language and ensure local youth organizations support the new collegiate-level Big Buoys baseball team.