Commissioners deadlock on reinstating executive director for tourism; public and bed‑tax collectors press for position

Walton County commissioners debated for more than an hour whether to add an executive director position for the Tourist Development Council (TDC) and where that position should sit in the county organizational chart. The board ultimately failed to approve the proposal to place the executive director under the Board of County Commissioners.

County staff proposed several organizational alternatives: placing the executive director as a direct report to the BCC (proposal E), placing the position under the county administrator (proposal B), or other permutations assigning beach operations either under the new executive director or under the county administrator. Supporters argued an executive director would provide daily, focused leadership for a $60 million‑a‑year tourism engine and allow more direct advocacy to the commission. Opponents warned the new position could cost roughly $300,000–$400,000 when benefits and overhead are included and said they wanted concrete ROI metrics before creating another high‑level position.

The Board heard comments from Tourism Director Matt Algren and many members of the local bed‑tax collectors, including Suzanne Harris and Jim Bagby, who said the TDC had repeatedly requested an executive director and that prior executive directors helped coordinate marketing, events and destination management. Supporters said an experienced executive could reduce consultant costs and better coordinate beach operations, beach nourishment projects and marketing to drive heads‑in‑beds during shoulder seasons.

Skeptics pointed to previous problems when the position sat under the board, questioned whether public inputs and political oversight would impair management, and asked for contractually defined performance metrics, guaranteed head‑count targets or grant/partnership revenue to offset the salary. Commissioner votes were split, and a motion to approve proposal E (executive director under the BCC with tourism and beach operations under that director) failed on a 2–2 vote.

Public commenters and bed‑tax collectors urged the commissioners to revisit the question; the item was not adopted. Several commissioners said they would consider performance metrics or contract terms as part of any future hiring discussion. No new position was authorized at this meeting.