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Flagler County tourism staff say $26 million Visit Florida cut will force advocacy and budget changes
Summary
At a Flagler County Tourism Development Council meeting, staff reported a $26 million reduction to the state tourism agency’s funding and proposed local advocacy, quarterly economic-impact reporting and program adjustments to offset lost co‑op marketing support.
At the Flagler County Tourism Development Council meeting, Amy of the county’s tourism office said a large reduction in funding to the state tourism agency — described in the meeting as a $26,000,000 decrease and the biggest cut since fiscal 2011–12 — will force local adjustments and advocacy.
“That’s the biggest decrease of funding since 02/2011, 2012 fiscal year,” Amy said, adding that the county “rely[es] on them, very heavily on the co op marketing, advertising programs that they offer us.” She urged board members to support outreach to Tallahassee and suggested the board prepare a letter of support for the agency.
Why it matters: Flagler County’s tourism office uses state-run co‑op marketing and advertising programs to extend limited local resources; a reduction at the state level can shrink advertising reach that helps drive visitation and hotel room nights for local businesses.
Amy told the board staff will monitor program changes, draft a letter of support for state advocacy, and produce quarterly economic-impact reports to make the case to elected officials and the public. She said staff had already begun preparing an infographic from 2018 summary data to share with residents and partners.
The tourism office previewed marketing initiatives to help replace lost promotional reach, including a wedding-market video campaign featuring a local couple with long and short cuts for use on a wedding microsite and in paid or earned placements. Amy also announced a free tourism-marketing workshop on Tuesday, June 11, 1:30–3 p.m., at Flagler Beach City Hall for local businesses; the session will be led by staff and a Visit Florida representative.
On budgeting and planning, Amy said staff plan to bring the draft budget to a Board of County Commissioners workshop in June and return with more concrete numbers in July for the TDC’s approval. She also said the county expects to hire a strategic-planning facilitator after summer and that the engagement should cost under $25,000, keeping it within purchasing thresholds so the effort can proceed without a separate BOCC purchasing action.
Board members endorsed drafting a letter of support and indicated willingness to sign it; staff said they will keep the board updated as state developments and budgets evolve.
The board did not take formal action in the meeting to fund or commit county dollars beyond existing allocations; follow-up items include preparing the advocacy letter and circulating the planned economic-impact materials.
