Flagler County outlines $120M countywide beach management plan, seeks new half‑cent sales tax and MSBU contributions

Flagler County officials told the Flagler Beach City Commission on Feb. 27 that a multi‑reach beach management plan adopted by the county in October 2023 needs additional funding to complete initial construction and ongoing maintenance.

The county estimates roughly $120 million to restore and nourish about 18 miles of coastline; after identified federal and state allocations the county says a local shortfall of about $42.4 million remains for initial construction, plus a projected periodic maintenance program that the county’s engineers modeled at intervals of about six years. County Administrator Heidi Petito and her staff described a financing approach that layers existing tourism funds, grants, a proposed new half‑cent local option sales tax shared across municipalities, and a municipal service benefit unit (MSBU) in the unincorporated barrier‑island areas.

Why it matters: County staff said beaches drive tourism, protecting an estimated $890 million annual tourism impact to Flagler County and supporting roughly 12,000 jobs; they said unchecked erosion poses economic, access and infrastructure risks. The county staff urged cities and towns to decide whether to join a countywide funding plan so the county can pursue federal and state construction grants and manage periodic renourishment.

What…