Jim Bagby Resigns As Walton County TDC Executive Director

[BeachMac]

Does anyone know why our district's commissioner wasn't there to vote and participate in the decision (per the newspaper article)?

 

[John G]

Same reason that C. Jones "missed" the vote on the rebel flag issue...

 

[Matt J]

Its not often I agree with John G but his post above is right on IMO. It is time to consider if we even need a TDC structured as it is now. I say no, bed tax money can be put to better use.

Andy, the TDC is structured the way it is due to State Statutes. If you change those you can have leeway. In the meantime it's going to remain a marketing machine.

Personally I think it's time to do away with the TDC completely. Believe it or not, but not having bed tax will bring more than any crappy marketing campaign would.

 

[Teresa]

I heard a rumor that the county is talking about possibly privatizing the TDC. Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Or if its under serious consideration or not.

 

[Matt J]

I heard that too, but that would give the right to a private company to levy and collect taxes, and I don't think it would go over very well.

 

[bentley williams]

I heard that too, but that would give the right to a private company to levy and collect taxes, and I don't think it would go over very well.

Why not just collect as usual and pay out like any other contract? Although it seems complicated if you have to bid it out. How do other locales do it?

 

[Teresa]

Have no clue how it works when a CVB is in place. I assumed the local govt would still collect the bed tax. PCB and Okaloosa County both have private CVB in place I believe.

 

[Matt J]

I believe a CVB is the local option for a city.

 

[Teresa]

Ok.. I misunderstood. Don't know what a private TDC is called.

 

[Robert D]

TDC and CVB are different names for similar organizations. A Tourist Development Council is more of a government term for an organization that advises a county commission on spending taxes collected.

Tourist Development Council (TDC) is the governing body that oversees the collection and distribution of the local-option tourist development tax authorized to counties by Florida Statutes.

A destination marketing organization (DMO) or convention and visitors bureau (CVB) is an organization that promotes a town, city, region, or country in order to increase the number of visitors. It promotes the development and marketing of a destination, focusing on convention sales, tourism marketing, and services.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC) contracts marketing and promotional activities with the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). The TDC is comprised of nine members appointed by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners. TDC and CVB activities are funded by the Tourist Development Tax (TDT).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This indicates the Walton TDC could continue to exist to collect taxes and advise the BCC, and could contract out services to a CVB. Beach Maintenance, trash pickup, bike path maintenance, walkovers, etc. could go under Walton County Public Works, or contracted out.