Votes at a glance: Bay County approves consent package and shifts tourist tax collection to tax collector

At its July 7 meeting, the Bay County Board of Commissioners approved a multi‑item consent agenda and adopted an ordinance to change the local collection agent for the tourist development tax.

Consent agenda: staff summarized multiple consent items and the board approved them by roll call. Items included acknowledgement of clerk revenue and expenditures reports; a fiscal year 2025‑26 budget amendment; award of contract 2623 (artificial reef) to HG Harders & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $395,000; authorization for the county attorney to seek an attorney general opinion regarding clerk of court pre‑audit authority; authorization related to opioid settlement matters; a Mexico Beach Community Development appointment; acceptance of a drainage easement for South Gaynor Bayou Drive to Bay County; a fiscal sustainability plan resolution for the North Bay wastewater project; approval of a development agreement for Country Lake Drive improvements including a $272,466 reimbursement; a one‑year hydrated lime supply contract with renewals; and award of contract 2641 for programmable logic controller replacement to SJ Electro Systems (Primex) in the amount of $475,000.

Tourist development tax ordinance: staff proposed amending section 14‑39 of the Bay County code to designate the tax collector (rather than the clerk of court) as the local collection agent for the tourist development tax, with a transition date to be set by resolution. Staff noted October 1 as a reference date but said additional conversations with the clerk and tax collector will determine the realistic transition schedule. Commissioners thanked the clerk's office for its long service and approved the ordinance by roll call, directing staff to bring back a resolution setting the effective date.

Vote totals: roll calls on the consent agenda and the tourist development tax ordinance recorded all board members voting yes.

Why it matters: the consent approvals fund immediate operational and capital work (reef project, utility contracts, PLC replacement) and the TDT collection change is an administrative shift intended to reduce collection costs and align collection responsibilities.

What's next: staff will manage contract execution, return a resolution to set the tourist tax transition date, and continue recommended administrative follow‑up on consent items.