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Commission approves $622,797 in resurfacing tied to new Section 6 TDC authority for St. George Island commercial district
Summary
Franklin County approved a $577,351 change order plus $45,446 in construction engineering services to extend resurfacing in St. George Island’s commercial district; county staff said RESTORE funds supply the matching share required under a 2025 statutory change allowing Section 6 TDC expenditures for public facilities.
Franklin County commissioners on March 18 authorized additional resurfacing in the St. George Island commercial district, approving a $577,351 contract change order and a $45,446 additional construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services proposal to be paid from Tourist Development Council (TDC) sales tax proceeds.
Fiscal Manager Erin Griffith briefed the Board on a 2025 change in Florida statute that allows fiscally constrained counties to use up to 70 percent of TDC proceeds for eligible public‑facilities projects (Section 125.0104(5)(a)6.e) provided an independent professional analysis demonstrates a positive impact on tourism. Staff said the county obtained that independent analysis and submitted it to the TDC; the economist concluded the resurfacing would support visitor experience and the island’s tourism economy.
Mrs. Griffith told commissioners that the county will use approximately $930,775 in RESTORE (federal) funds already committed to stormwater and roadway work to satisfy the non‑TDC matching requirement; with the change order and CEI the total project cost rises to $622,797 for the additional resurfacing elements. The economist’s report cited estimated visitor spending of $312.4 million countywide and said the resurfacing represents roughly two months (66 days) of Tourist Development Tax collections.
Commissioners asked how the remaining costs would be covered; Mrs. Griffith explained the RESTORE project’s resurfacing portion supplies the match. The Board approved change order #3 and the CEI agreement on separate motions (both 5‑0).
Why it matters: the vote marks the county’s first use of Section 6 authority to advance public‑facilities work funded by TDC proceeds, and staff said the resurfacing restores pavement damaged during prior stormwater work and supports the commercial corridor that underpins Franklin County’s tourism economy.
Next steps: staff will execute the change order with North Florida Construction and the CEI agreement with Southeastern Consulting Engineers, and proceed with resurfacing work coordinated with ongoing RESTORE stormwater construction.
