Flagler County commissioners agree that the county’s beach-management plan must include all 18 miles of beach, and do not dispute its $120 million cost over the next six years. As accomplishments, that was no small thing today for the issue that has most vexed and divided the commission’s five members.
But with three commissioners still opposed to increasing the county sales tax, a funding plan remains elusive. Without it, the rest is moot as a viable beach well into the future.
With one exception, no new revenue source emerged as the “alternative” two commissioners continue to say is out there, if only the county administration crunched the number, other than the re-calculating of existing numbers. The exception is the possible addition of a flat barrier island property surtax the administration estimates at over $900 per parcel, on every parcel. Barrier island residents are as likely and as sharply to oppose it as when a version of it–and a far smaller fee–was proposed countywide last year, when Palm Coast and Flagler Beach immediately killed it.
A four-hour meeting of the commission today did not resolve that impasse. It did not foreclose on a solution, either. As at a high-stakes summit riven by seemingly unbridgeable differences, the commissioners at least agreed to continue exploring options even if it means collating a list of revenue sources for a year or two, until a more solid plan can be devised. But there was little question that today’s workshop ended with still more uncertainty, and that it was not where any of the commissioners wanted to end.
“I don’t know what the headline is going to be after today,” Commission Chair Andy Dance said, reflecting the We’re we’re still not decided on a on a way forward with funding, we are going to need some additional non half cent scenarios,
Ansley Wren Key, the coastal engineer in charge of Flagler County’s beach management, summarized the revenue sources for the commissioners–from the Tourist Development sales surtax, from the general fund, from special taxing districts, from the sales tax. Commissioner Kim Carney had shared an American Shore and Beach Preservation Association white paper that also included parking fees and bonds as potential revenue sources. Key herself found that counties with similar characteristics as Flagler’s have a combination of tourism and special taxing districts to fund their plans.
The summary underscored an essential point: state and federal grants are available, but depend on a commitment by Flagler County to have dollars of its own from reliable revenue to contribute.
Dance repeated that point, warning against any plan that would be more “smoke and mirrors” than a true commitment by Flagler County. “We get the most money out of this through our federal and state partners, and by having a defensible plan,” he said. “If we’re trying to make some type of mirror game with funding, they’re going to see right through it in a heartbeat, and they are going to know that it is not viable. So the most important thing we can do is, no matter how we fund it, it has to be defensible.”
The county has cobbled together many of those sources, with federal and state dollars accounting for the lionshare of needed revenue, and the local share drawing from tourism tax revenue, the general fund. For all that, there remains a $17.5 million shortfall just to rebuild the coastline. Beyond that, the county has an annual $10 million shortfall just to maintain the beaches and ensure that they can be renourished every six years.
“To ensure that long-term sustainability of beach preservation,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said, “it is critical to identify some additional recurring local revenue sources that will provide a stable, predictable funding stream for future nourishment.”
Petito spoke of the current budget facing a $2.9 million deficit. If the deficit were to be “absorbed” by the county and the five constitutional officers, she said, it would equate to a 10 percent cut in the budget. If it were to be absorbed by the county alone, it would be a 20 percent cut.
But Petito’s figures seemed outlandish: the proposed county budget is $83.4 million. A $2.9 million cut is 3.5 percent to its budget, not 20 percent, and it would be a 1.9 percent cut to the combined $150 million budgets of the constitutional officers and the county, not 10 percent. Petito’s 10 and 20 percent figures are closer to accuracy if what she meant was a combination of closing the deficit and funding the beach-management plan’s deficit through cuts to other parts of the budget.
(In an email pointing to the presentation framing the discussion, Petito said the 10 and 20 percent references were in fact in relation to the total needs of the beach-management plan. Based on current calculations, the plan requires $15.8 million each of the next two years. $15.8 million would be around 20 percent of the proposed general fund budget, but that would assume zero revenue from any other source for beach management but cuts, even though the argument has centered on replacing sales tax revenue alone.)
Commissioners did not challenge Petito’s numbers, though Dance at one point relied on them to say, “Lord, help us if you’re trying to make me go negotiate with the sheriff on a 10 percent budget cut, or any of the other constitutionals.”
The point was that cutting government services to fund the beach is not a viable plan, as Commissioner Greg Hansen put it. “The only answer, the only solid answer to this, is to create a new stream of money,” Hansen said. “There’s only two ways to do that. You can do the half-cent sales tax, or you can increase your ad valorem taxes,” meaning the property tax. Otherwise, the budget would have to be robbed. He said even the white paper Carney submitted pointed to the half-sent sales tax.
As Hansen spoke, Carney gathered her things and was ready to walk out but for Dance keeping her from leaving. “This is the making of the sausage. This is not fun. It is not pleasant, but has to be done,” Dance said. “If we leave and abandon this, we are not solving a problem.”
Carney said the belief that the half-cent sales tax is the only way to solve the funding issue is incorrect. She said the half-cent sales tax proposal is “one part of it.” She is right. It is one part among several. But to the county administration–and to Hansen and Dance–it is an essential, or at least irreplaceable, part. Without it, there would be no plan.
Carney disagrees. She presented a plan of her own. “I believe this is fluid,” she said. “I do not believe that we need $20 million in the bank by 2026 in order for the state to talk to Flagler County. I don’t believe that.” She proposed the following: increasing tourism tax dollar revenue, increasing the property tax revenue dedicated to the beach, drawing from a Municipal service taxing unit (or MSTU), and carrying over $5 million from the current year’s unused funds.
She also mentioned a “deal” with the state transportation department to “sustain our sea walls.” The state had previously committed $500,000 annually. It’s not clear what it will commit to now, with two sea walls. But whatever it commits, Carney was mixing apples and oranges: sand for the sea walls stops at the dune line. The transportation department will not pay for sands on the beach itself. Carney’s total was $8.5 million in 2026 “just to get us started,” and without a sales tax increase.
Dance wasn’t close to being convinced, especially with Carney’s suggestion of an MSTU to replace to another fee that property owners would pay. Based on that approach, Deputy County Administrator Jorge Salinas said, the taxing district would have to charge $905 per parcel, replacing a $160 fee the county was planning to charge property owners as part of a different funding stream. (An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that the $905 would be in addition to the $160 fee.)
“I don’t know that we’ve come up with additional clarification on staff to be able to come up with a non-half penny funding formula,” Dance said. “We have plenty of buckets that we can pull from, but there needs to be clarification on the extent of the buckets.”
Commissioners agreed to fold that discussion into their July 2 budget workshop, when they will have their own general fund spreadsheets in front of them.
Notably during public comments, Suzanne Johnston, the former tax collector, and Jay Gardner, the property appraiser, spoke and both opposed any taxing scheme that would, in their view, unfairly burden barrier island residents. Both said the sales tax was the fairer approach. “You have to do something. But with the sales tax, I have a choice,” Johnston said. “You have a choice on how much you pay. You can eat out and pay sales tax, cook at home and not pay sales tax.”
“I came here with high hopes,” a west-side resident told the commissioners. “We were going to have all kinds of new numbers, new figures, new ideas. But it looks like we got the same stuff again, different font, a little bit different layout. But again, we’re being told this half-cent tax is the only way to go.”
Most others, in words ranging from forbearing to encouraging to hectoring, urged commissioners to keep working toward a comprehensive plan ensuring the future of the county’s 18 miles of shore. “Coming out of this meeting,” Maroon Manley said, “I think the headline should be: ‘Beach Plan Going Forward,’ and go on from there and add your adjectives.”
It is, but along foggy, unpredictable shoals.
Joe D says
Wow…$905/ year per Barrier Island Parcel ?!? Not based on property size or house square footage, or property value? Just a “one size fits all” fee…small bungalow or 5 bedroom “mansion?” THAT doesn’t seem fair considering my rowed townhouse is 2 bedrooms/1.5 bathroom, 1155 sq feet with a 7 unit shared driveway, and NO PRIVATE ACCESS beach across from me…No sliding scale based on size or assessed value !?! Let me play “Devil’s advocate“ for a moment. Since all of this proposed cost lands on the “RICH” (I’m a retired NURSE…HA, HA) barrier island owners (I’m paying $6500 in property taxes ALREADY, for the “privilege” of being near the beach). Is Flagler Beach now going to be able to charge BEACH ADMISSION, for the beach that cell towers information documents are being used 4 out of 5 by Palm Coast residents? I’m sure not!
This is CLEARLY a case of Flagler County wants its CAKE, but it doesn’t want to PAY for it. Starting PAID parking fees will help, but won’t cover all of it. Increasing the short term tourist rental taxes will also help, but still won’t be enough to meet the cost (and you have to be careful not to raise the rental taxes will SO MUCH, that you force people to go elsewhere). Increasing what the Tourist Bureau gives to Flagler Beach will also help some.
The only VIABLE, and fair way to distribute the cost is to spread it around to EVERYONE ( especially the visiting TOURISTS), in the form of a 1/2 cent increase in the sales tax. And if people are worried their “annual “ car purchase or major appliance replacement will be too expensive with a 1/2 cent increase. Maybe our COMMISSIONERS can calculate a formula to exempt it ( like for grocery food, certain clothes, and other staples are exempted now).
OR we can just take the third option, and lose the beach and the promised renourishment with the next big storm!!! Try SUBTRACTING the TOURIST DOLLARS out of the Flagler County Budget….and see what fees and taxes will have to be raised to balance the Flagler County Budget without those tourist dollars. What’s that other saying…”Penny wise and pound foolish”…I doubt if 50% of local residents even REMEMBER what that means?
And while we are at budget deficit discussion time. This is the third time I have commented looking for the APPROXIMATE Flagler County income every years from Tourist spending at Flagler Beach: hotels, rentals, concession sales, restaurants, shops, etc?
I’m sure SOMEONE out there in BUDGETLAND has the estimated TOURIST income data SOMEWHERE???
Jake says
Federal dollars that were provided by Biden. Like orange terror or boot licking ron wouldn’t cut that funding in a heartbeat if it meant money to his wife’s company or a new golf simulator for his mansion. Good luck relying on fascist conmen to provide funding for a problem they won’t even acknowledge! 😂 good luck! They literally cut aid to starving children! The billionaires are hungry and need more of your money! AI replacing the workforce just add work requirements for any assistance haha!! Murikkka!
Larry says
1/2 cent sales tax is the only reasonable option and non-county residents would contribute with that option.
Mothersworry says
I gotta ask. Does Flagler “Beach” end at Gamble Rogers Park?? Because that’s what it seems like. No beach re-nourishment at all on the southern end. Although a number of residents were told that there were two funding plans. One from Snack Jack north to and through downtown using the Army Corps of Engineer’s and another funded by the county/state that would pay for the southern shorter section. The southern section didn’t happen. We did get a sea wall though and a incline that you can repel down. We read constantly about downtown and the nice beach as we sit here wondering what the hell happened.
Ed says
The 1/2 cent Sales Tax contribution to the Beach Renourishment Funding Plan is the way to go. There may be other things that can contribute but the 1/2 cent Sales Tax should provide the bulk of the annual funding mainly for this reason…
The entire County benefits from the economic impact generated by beach tourism (close to $900mm in 2024). Money that comes from beach tourism does not stay at the beach. It finds its way to all of Fagler County. So, it makes sense that the entire County should help fund beach renourishment to assure that the economic impact from beach tourism continues. If the beach goes away the entire county would be in a world of hurt. The entire county should make this investment.
Some have suggested another way would be to increase property taxes. That would work on a recurring basis as well however, the 1/2 cent sales tax increase would include a contribution from tourists since they spend money here. An increase in property taxes would not include contributions from tourists. Leave property taxes alone.
Making the tough decisions is part of the job of a County Commissioner. Saying “no tax increase” is not a tough decision. Telling citizens that we need to raise the sales tax by 1/2 cent is a tough thing to do. But it is what needs to be done. It is the fairest and best way to get this done and help assure the wonderful lifestyle we all have in Flagler County going forward.
Janet Sullivan says
I was there, and it was painful. The Commission needs to do its job. Leaders sometimes have to make some difficult choices, even if not all residents agree. The fact is that the loss of the beach would impact the entire COUNTY and every resident. Commissioners need to take a higher level approach to this decision, in spite of pressure from various groups of constituents. Being a decision-maker requires being a grown-up and doing what’s necessary, even if there is some pain involved, and even if all citizens don’t agree. There also seemed to be a blanket dismisal by one of the Commissioners of any comments made by any residents of the Hammock. During the public comments time, it was obvious that 3-4 speakers had significant leadership and decision-making experience. I thought they were kind, smart, and were trying to be helpful. The Commissioners should do themselves a favor and listen to those folks rather than let one Commissioner alienate and dismiss them, which is what occurred. Finally, unless something breaks loose quickly, if I were either of the two consulting companies which have have helped create the plan, I would take my bat and ball and go home. They have a deep investment, and surely were disheartened watching the sh– show and wondering if the Commissioners will ever get it together enough to pay for the plan. Embarrassing. Flagler County deserves better than this.
Jack Flaggler says
It seems to me that Kim Carney just got away with eliminating the 1/2 cent sales tax option to help fund our beach. Now the heaviest burden will fall on us the residents of the barrier island with LESS help from the visitors. Nice job Kim.
Kim you need to stop listing to perviously rejected/failed political coaches Perry Mitrano and Dennis McDonald, they have no clue on how to manage or fund a BMP. You work for us not these political failures…
Swale Watcher says
The proposed solutions place the burden most squarely on the residents of the island, and not all of them have high incomes. As one of the public commenters noted, no one else–not out-of-town visitor, no other county resident would be footing the bill despite either visiting the beach or benefitting indirectly. Most of us in Palm Coast, if we sell our homes, will have a realtor that injects “Just miles to the beach,” in the sales-pitch. We get to live “Miles from the beach,” without the heightened homeowners insurance, heightened property taxes, and risk. We can go or not.
We can reduce county services–constitutional or otherwise–reducing services and quality of such for the entire county for this.
I don’t understand how we could have had staff, surveys, consultants to draw a conclusion of the best fit only to say, “No one’s offering any other alternatives,” without recognizing, logically, that they’ve already done the deductions, and there are not many–or any–viable alternatives. Sometimes solutions to a problem that surface are the best solution, even though it’s not an ideal solution. It’s the only and best solution.
We’re moving forward without the best solution. The BOCC has consensus. That’s that. Let’s move forward with something new–start from scratch, and make this even more painful than it needs to be, I suppose.
Julia LaRue says
I agree for a 1/2 cent sales tax for ALL to pay. I do not agree with exemptions from the cities of Palm Coast and Bunnell. The monies generated should be exclusively used for the beach renourishment only. No dipping into for any other reason. This issue has been discussed to death. This should not be a fire drill at this point. (Which it is!) The barrier island residents should not carry the whole burden of this. Our beaches benefit all. The cities benefit from the tourism revenue generated by visitors to the beaches. The restaurants, motels, stores, gas stations, short term rentals. No one should be exempt from the 1/2 cent tax.
Lacy james says
Saving the beaches means letting it go back to its natural state
Just Saying says
Plan to Save the Beaches Still Elusive With No Solid Alternative to Sales Tax, But Commissioners Agree to Keep Kicking the Can Down the Road . . . .
just wait for it says
People who use the beach more often place more wear and tear on facilities. Charging them more ensures they contribute proportionally. Fees based on usage is the fair way to go. Paid parking is a great start, I know someone mentioned South Florida. South Florida is not the only place that has them; another place is St. Augustine. They have paid parking around the old city, again by a tourist spot. Take the 13 million they are going to use to build the eco-discovery center and use that for the beach plan. Without the beaches you have no tourist, the building can wait a few more years. There is 360 miles of beaches on the East Coast of Florida, how does the other 342 miles paid for their beach? What about the 825 miles along the West Coast? Has the County Administration even reached out to find out?
Pay to play says
Slap a $250.00 a week assessment on the restaurants and bussness beachside that benefit financially from the view that is provided to them free of charge by mother nature & charge $5.00 perversion for daily beach use with the $ collected at the dunes walkiver
Kim says
Yes, the half cent sales tax seems the only way to go. Again, this $ matching requirement has been known for over 15 years, so……what does it say about the county’s ability to manage? You sure had no problem browbeating all of the beachfront residents to allow the county to amend our deeds in perpetuity to allow work on our property on the beach. Very tenacious on that one, and it too was mismanaged.
Also, would love to see signs beachside “Welcome Home, citizens” after we’ve had to leave twice a year during bike weeks for the tourists. Nope, just signs for the bikers.
Doug says
What about disaster relief for our fellow human beings ? With FEMA and most government agencies being gutted who will respond when there is a Katrina in your town? All money saved went to 20 really rich people. So now you need to create an agency to respond to disasters! Haha morons!
Flagler County Resident says
So, newly elected Commissioners don’t seem to understand that there is crucial criteria that has to be met when receiving any type of grant. Library Director, Holly Albanese, expressed that at the BOCC meeting on Monday. The six positions were stipulations for receiving the grant over a five year period. You will have to come up with a way to pay back the grant if you can’t afford the six new positions for the new library. In my opinion, we need another election to replace the newest Commissioners if they can’t get on board with the reality of what is needed in a Community. I know that’s not an option but it is my opinion! Hopefully, we will get someone with a lot of knowledge about budgets, legal issues and social media in the next election. You need to approve that half cent sales tax! It’s not only fair to all residents, it would hopefully also continue to take care of the Beach nourishment money that is still needed! Solutions shouldn’t be only on the County Administrator and her staff, you as Commissioners, that were elected, also need to come up with viable solutions!
Laurel says
Well, if you own a second home in a subdivision directly on the beach, with a clubhouse that was flooded a few years ago, I can see why you would push the commission to make difficult choices so that the rest of us pay for your beach.
Any beach special tax district should overlay those with direct benefit to the ocean, physically and financially, and not all who live on the east side of the bridge, along with others who must drive to a public park to enjoy the beach.
The half cent tax is a possibility, but it will be double taxing those who are effected by any such special tax district overlay. Also, it will have a negative effect on businesses. The local businesses, such as department stores, pet supply stores, auto sales, tire stores, appliances stores, mom and pop stores, etc., will all be collecting the extra tax for the beach, but not directly profiting from the beach. Business people who are not directly effected by the beach or by tourism, will not be happy. Between added taxes and tariffs, businesses will suffer.
All properties should be assessed, within the county, not “per parcel” as the original plan states, but by parcel size, by parcel usage directly benefiting from tourism, and subdivisions or private homes, with direct but non normal public access to the beach. All areas that do have public access to the beach should have paid parking by kiosks. The rest should come from state and federal funding, and tourist taxes.
No matter what anyone says, people are here because of the proximity of the beach, but there are those who benefit by proximity more so than others, and should be assessed accordingly. Those who live in homes, that do not have direct access, should not pay the same rate as those who do, or pay the same rate as clubhouses and large parcels that cater to a few.
If the commission needs to make difficult choices, then lay those difficult choices on those who benefit personally, and financially, the most. Not on the average homesteader who must get in a car and drive to a publicly accessible beach.
Also, I will add that the topography (if you will) of the ocean here is not the same as south Florida. South Florida has reefs and a deeper floor that slows down the wave action during storms. This area is very different with no barriers (oh, except us in the Hammock which is a barrier to the inland properties…you’re welcome) and normal wave action keeps scalloping out the sand. This means that this area will need “re-nourishment” (a euphemism) more frequently, and more costly over time. Keep that in mind.
Roger C says
Why is Flagler County having such a problem taking care of the beach? I have read that Flagler County is the only county in Florida that does not have a plan for restoring its beaches from damage. What is wrong with us? How are all the other counties funding their beach restorations. Our Commissioners have been discussing this issue for years and still have no approved plan. It is a Flagler County beach and the county has a responsibility to maintain it. The major sources of income for the county are sales taxes and property taxes. Our Commissioners have to just face up to this and pick one or the other or a combination of both. $12 million a year amounts to around $130 per resident- It is not like we are talking about huge sums of money. If our beaches get destroyed the County’s revenues will drop by a lot more than $12 million a year, not to mention the huge drop in school taxes. Think of what that will do to our infrastructure. Why is this so hard to resolve.