Panama City
City of Panama City: who runs it, what it spends and owes, how its commission votes, and what the auditors found, all from public records.
Who's in charge
Commission-manager; mayor elected at-large, four commissioners elected by wardElected
- Mayor (at-large)Allan Branchuntil May 2027
- Ward IRobbie Hughesuntil May 2029
- Ward IIJanice Lucasuntil May 2027
- Ward IIIBrian Graingeruntil May 2027
- Ward IVJosh Streetuntil May 2029
Appointed staff
- City ManagerJonathan Hayes
- City AttorneyNevin ZimmermanFY26 budget book
- City Clerk-TreasurerJanette SmithFY26 budget book
Top pay
- Mayor and 4 Commissioners (combined regular salaries)$204,217 FY2026 proposed budget
Money in, money out
Adopted September 2025 budget · general fund $67.7MWhere the money comes from
What the general fund pays for
The commission kept the 4.7999 mill rate (also used in FY2023). News coverage said the city cut about $8 million in spending and gave the budget as about $136 million, which is the total excluding interfund transfers. Source
The adopted rate is 3.2% above the rolled-back rate (4.6529). Source
City of Panama City Adopted Budget Report, Fiscal Year 2026 · Compare every government's budget · Budget explorer
Property tax rate
Mills: dollars per $1,000 of taxable valueThe 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
Debt
FY2024 (year ended 2024-09-30) - FY2025 audit not yet filed with Auditor General$234.4M owed — about $6,157 per resident. Matches the city's own 'Ratios of Outstanding Debt' schedule: governmental revenue notes $172,827,384 (net of $27,616 discount), finance purchases $3,804,008, leases $744,766, SBITAs $230,140, utility revenue note $24,181,000, State Revolving Fund loans $32,650,467. Per capita $6,184 (city schedule). Excludes compensated absences ($2,698,163), pension and OPEB. Port Authority debt is reported separately.
| Kind of debt | Owed |
|---|---|
| Revenue bonds | $197,036,000 |
| Bond discount | $-27,616 |
| Notes and loans | $32,650,467 |
| Financed purchases | $3,804,008 |
| Leases | $744,766 |
| Software subscriptions (SBITAs) | $230,140 |
What the auditors found
FY2024: 1 finding · FY2023: 2 findings · FY2022: 6 findings- CRA policies, procedures and plan documents (previously 2022-002, 2023-001) Repeat
The city's Community Redevelopment Agency's policies, procedures and plan documents did not ensure expenditures were proper; assets could be misused or unallowable spending could occur. Reported as a material weakness.
How they voted
150 money votes recorded · 63 split (42%)Most recent split votes
- Approved $62.45 million FY2027 general fund budget
Voted no: Robbie Hughes
- Required weekly reports on budget line-item transfers
Voted no: Janice Lucas
- Approved FY2027 budget for all other city funds
Voted no: Robbie Hughes
- Kept Capital City Partners as lobbyist this budget year
Voted no: Janice Lucas
Contracts
102 major contracts since October 2022 · $182.2MLargest
- Burke Construction Group, Inc. · $19.5M Martin Luther King Recreation Center construction (2024-01-23) Source
- Extreme Land Clearing & Excavation LLC · $15.2M Bid PC-24-006, CDBG-DR Project Restore Area A-2 improvements (up to $15,929,672.04 with 5% contingency) (2024-02-13) Source
- Gulf Coast Utility Contractors, LLC (GCUC) · $10.4M Bid PC24-005, CDBG-DR Project Restore Millville, Subsection B (2024-02-27) Source
Projects, recovery and bills
Upcoming meetings
- 2026-10-27 16:30 City Commission Meeting of October 27, 2026. Agenda
- 2026-11-03 16:30 Virtual CRA Workshop
- 2026-11-17 16:30 City Commission Meeting
- 2026-12-01 16:30 CRA Board Meeting
- 2026-12-15 16:30 City Commission Meeting
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