Flagler County is directing more tourism tax money toward beach protection as the cost of maintaining one of the area’s biggest attractions continues to grow.
The county expects to collect about $4.4 million in tourism tax revenue this year. Forty percent is now being used to protect the beaches, leaving less money for other tourism-related projects.
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For years, tourism dollars have helped pay for sports fields, lighting, recreational facilities, the Flagler Beach pier and beach-access improvements. Although the money comes from visitors staying in Flagler County — not property taxes — residents also use many of those facilities.
“We have frequent lacrosse tournaments that come here, soccer tournaments, so lighting at those and capital projects related to those — sports tourism is very big for us also here,” said Interim County Administrator Adam Mengel.
Mengel said beach protection is currently a priority because the county must provide matching funds for beach projects supported by state and federal grants.
“It’s at least a priority until we can come up with a more permanent beach funding plan,” Mengel said.
The County Commission has discussed the need for a long-term beach management funding plan for several years but has not decided how to pay for it.
“Our goal for the next year is to come up with that funding plan,” Mengel said. “It’ll be a mix of funding sources and still relying heavily on federal and state funds.”
Residents had mixed reactions to the shift.
“They’re going to need to anyways because it is a big tourist attraction and people come here for the beaches alone,” said Mary, a Flagler County resident.
Mike, another resident, questioned whether taxpayers should help pay to protect private beachfront property.
“It makes us mad. We don’t need it,” he said. “People who buy homes that get washed out on the beach need to know that there’s a possibility they’re going to have a problem. Why should we pay for it?”