Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Flagler County tourism council adopts budget, boosts advertising and funds visitor research
Summary
The Flagler County Tourist Development Council approved its proposed budget for funds 109, 110 and 111, pledged more advertising funding and authorized a year-long visitor research project to produce visitor counts and a visitor profile; council also reviewed potential impacts of a beach renourishment bond.
The Flagler County Tourist Development Council on an adopted budget for funds 109, 110 and 111 and voted to increase advertising spending as it prepares for upcoming beach-renourishment work.
Amy (Tourism Development Office staff) told the council the proposed annual budget total has not changed since the staff briefing but includes a proposed $100,000 increase for advertising to support Flagler Beach businesses during construction and to promote shoulder-season visitation. "We have committed an additional, or proposing to commit additional 100,000, and that's specifically to help support the ongoing support of the Flagler Beach businesses," Amy said.
The increase would bring advertising to roughly 33% of the tourism budget, up from about 29% last year, Amy said. She also told the board the county will now absorb a recurring 3% tax-collector fee across accounts 109, 110 and 111, which staff estimated adds about $56,000 annually to expenses.
Chair raised concerns about the timing and visitor impacts of the A1A construction and the Army Corps beach-renourishment work, saying the beach project "is gonna block off portions of the beach that people aren't gonna be able to get to" and that the initial impact could close about a mile of beach at a time. Staff said they are meeting with administration and the Army Corps for additional detail.
The council also reviewed a research project (an RFP approved by the Board of County Commissioners) to establish a visitor count and a year-long visitor profile for 2018, including day-trip visitor information. Amy said the project will produce data the office has not had previously and will run through all seasons and major events.
The board moved and seconded to approve the budget proposal for funds 109, 110 and 111; the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps: staff will attend a strategic-planning session at the TDC offices next month and return with finalized budget lines once outstanding revenue and scheduling items are confirmed with FDOT and other agencies.
