Tourist Development Tax funds will go towards public safety

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Bay County officials are changing how some of Bay County’s Tourist Development Tax dollars are used.

“What the TDC has asked to do is open the third cent,” said Clair Pease, Bay County Commissioner, District 5.

Bay County officials say the third cent of the tax was used for beach renourishment and beach maintenance.

“That category had increased so much that we knew that we weren’t going to need that much money for beach renourishment,” said Pease.

On Wednesday commissioners approved to open the third cent (or third penny) for other uses like public safety, like lifeguards.

“We’re talking about opening that money up to be able to use for the sheriff’s department, Panama City Beach department, water safety,” said Pease. “You know, all of these things that that we need to use the money for. Some of it’s used to buy equipment that they need to be able to safely protect to protect the beach.”'

Tourist Development Council officials say each cent of the tax brings in approximately $7.4 million. With 95% of that being budgeted each year. Up to 10% of the total tax, roughly 3.5 million dollars can now be allocated to public safety, helping to ensure a safer environment for everyone on Bay County’s beaches.

Commissioners also voted on increasing the amount of money they have in their reserve account.

“We have also voted to put $50 million in reserves,” said Pease. “Reserves are something that we’ve needed for a long time and I was happy to see that 50 million go into reserves.”

Money from the reserve account would go towards an emergency disaster-type situation.

“We have had oil spills, hurricanes, just the economy, you know, could tank anything could go on,” said Pease.

Commissioners say the reserve funds come from the TDC bed tax.

“If we ever really needed to use that money, that reserve, then we have already done the steps to be able to use it,” said Pease.

They’re putting money to use where it’s needed, to protect locals and visitors.