Bay County

The countywide general millage stayed at 5.4362 mills for FY2026, the same rate since FY2024. FY2021 through FY2023 used 4.4362 mills; the FY2024 budget raised it by 1.0 mill. Source

Commissioners turned down a staff proposal to raise the fire MSTU rate slightly and kept it at 1.38 mills. Part of the cost of new fire apparatus will come from reserves instead, and a Tourist Development Council partnership helps pay for lifeguards. Source

Bay County FY 2026 Final Budget Commissioners' Book (Sept 16, 2025); FY 2026 Final Budget Revenue Detail Report; FY 2026 Final Budget Hearing Presentation Related: baycountyfl.gov · Compare every government's budget · Budget explorer

The tick on each bar is the rolled-back rate, the rate that would bring in the same money as the year before. The latest rate is above it, so the city takes in more from existing property than the year before. See your full tax bill

$281.4M owed — about $1,407 per resident. Matches the county's Schedule 11 'Ratios of Outstanding Debt' ($1,435 per capita). Governmental: bonds from direct placement $20,261,000; notes from direct borrowings $182,029,699; leases $1,728,798; SBITAs $1,191,776; finance purchases $2,136,645. Business-type (wholesale water, retail water/wastewater, solid waste): revenue bonds $38,885,000 + premium $2,771,127; direct-placement bond $17,793,000; notes $13,757,903; finance purchases $113,239; SBITAs $720,562. Excludes compensated absences ($7,927,921), self-insured losses ($1,475,542), landfill closure/postclosure ($19,341,711), pension and OPEB.

Audited financial statements · All local debt

1. Lack of Documented Review of Required Quarterly Reports (federal, AL 97.036 FEMA Public Assistance)

   3 of 40 quarterly FEMA (Hurricane Michael) reports prepared by the county's consultant did not match approved expenses and support. There was no documented county review before the consultant submitted them. Material weakness; no questioned costs.

2. Ineligible Expenses Approved for Reimbursement (federal, AL 97.083 SAFER fire staffing grant)

   Two of three reimbursement requests tested included ineligible payroll costs approved by the grant administrator. The federal grantor caught them and paid only eligible costs. Material weakness; no questioned costs.

3. Material audit adjustments (Bay County financial statements)

   Material adjustments were needed for the financial statements to meet GAAP because county controls did not catch them in time. Material weakness.

4. Material adjustments - Bay County Property Appraiser

   The Property Appraiser's office needed material adjustments to cash and accounts payable, and a check was improperly dated in its records. Material weakness.

FY2024 audit · All audit findings

Most recent split votes

1. Aug 6, 2024 · 4-1
   Dropped M.B. Miller Pier parking fee for county residents

   Voted no: Clair Pease

All Bay County votes, by member

Largest

• Weeks Marine, Inc. · $27.2M Contract 24-45, Mexico Beach beach restoration project (2024-08-20) Source
• A.C. Schultes of Florida, Inc. · $16.4M Contract 25-04, North Bay underground injection control wells (Utility Services) (2025-03-18) Source
• Not named in agenda recommendation · $14.3M Purchase of 12 fire apparatus (4 brush trucks, 4 pumper tankers, 1 rescue pumper, 2 tower trucks, 1 heavy rescue), not to exceed (2026-01-21) Source

All Bay County contracts

• 2026-11-03 09:00 Bay County Board of County Commissioners Meeting
• 2026-11-17 09:00 Bay County Board of County Commissioners Meeting
• 2026-11-17 13:30 Planning Commission Meeting
• 2026-12-01 09:00 Bay County Board of County Commissioners Meeting
• 2026-12-15 09:00 Bay County Board of County Commissioners Meeting

All meetings