The bed tax: what visitors pay and where it goes

Hurricane Michael (October 2018) shows in FY2019–FY2020 for Mexico Beach and Panama City; FY2020 also reflects the pandemic. FY2026 so far (through July): $35.2M. Collections include penalties and interest, as reported by the Clerk. Clerk reports

In FY2024 the PCB zone's tax revenue went about 60% to tourism promotion (3 cents), 20% to beach nourishment (1 cent) and 20% to the "5th cent" fund that pays the Publix Sports Park debt and other projects (1 cent). This is worked out from the county's budget book; the ordinance itself wasn't available to check. Source

"Tourism development projects" is mostly the SABRE indoor event center at the Publix Sports Park ($26.3M budgeted), which the TDC paused in June 2026.

Budget columns include reserves (for example, $53.5M of beach nourishment reserves in FY2026), so they are much larger than actual spending. Mexico Beach's zone fund (126) is left out because its FY2025 lines include large one-time transfers we couldn't reconcile; its CVB contract was $1.1M in FY2026. Fund-level sums of the line items in the county budget book. FY2027 budget book

• Statutory composition. s.125.0104(4)(e) F.S.: the county governing board appoints a 9-member Tourist Development Council established by ordinance: the county commission chair (or a commissioner the chair designates); two elected municipal officials, at least one from the most populous municipality in the taxing district; six people involved in the tourist industry, of whom 3 to 4 must be owners/operators of tourist accommodations subject to the tax. All members must be county electors; staggered 4-year terms; meets at least quarterly; recommends uses of revenue and continuously reviews expenditures. The council is advisory; the Board of County Commissioners adopts the budget. Source
• Bay County TDC as described by Visit PCB. Nine members appointed by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners: three tax collectors, three representatives of tourist-related businesses and three elected officials. The TDC contracts marketing and promotional activities with the Panama City Beach CVB. Source
• Budget flow. The TDC approves and recommends the PCB CVB, Destination Panama City and Mexico Beach budgets/programs of work to the BCC (Aug 25, 2026 agenda for FY2027). The BCC adopts TDC Funds 124-129 in the county budget. Source
• Sixth penny requires referendum (as reported). In June 2023 the TDC asked the BCC to raise the rate from 5% to 6%; the motion died for lack of a second. The article reports that a state law change effective July 1, 2023 requires voter approval for future increases. Source
• Finance controls (2026). On Jan 13, 2026 the TDC approved Resolution 2601 giving the Bay County Clerk of Court control of the CVB's bank accounts and financial operations, and hired an independent auditor to review internal controls. Source
• Officers reported in March 2026. Reggie Johns replaced Clair Pease as chair; Ethan Register vice chair; Will Fleming and Josh Wakstein joined the board. Jeff DeBenedictis became treasurer in January 2026. This is a partial list from news reports, not an official roster. Source
• Executive. Griff Griffitts (then a state representative) was selected as Visit PCB president & CEO on March 10, 2026, after Dan Rowe resigned; BCC was to finalize the hire. Source

• Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.: Agreement for Marketing and Promotional Services with Bay County. Recommended by the TDC on Aug 25, 2026 alongside the FY2027 CVB budget; an amended agreement appeared on the Oct 13, 2026 consent agenda. FY2026 Fund 125 Tourism Promotion operating budget $15,924,364. Source
• Luckie (advertising agency): FY2027 Agreement for Marketing & Promotional Services (presented to the TDC Aug 25, 2026). The CVB FY2026 budget refers to an 'agency of record'; FY2026 agency retainer line $461,135. Source
• Lou Hammond Group (public relations): Part of FY2027 marketing & promotional services presentation. Source
• Watauga Group (media buying): Part of FY2027 marketing & promotional services presentation. Source
• Sustainable Beaches, LLC: Consulting services agreement (Oct 13, 2026 TDC consent agenda). Source
• Lender on 2020 Tourist Development Tax Refunding Revenue Note (Sports Park): Debt. Original $32,120,000 (2020); outstanding $18,200,000 at start of FY2027; FY2027 principal $2,435,000 + interest $393,120; matures 2032. Paid from Fund 128. Source
• Mexico Beach marketing contract: CVB contract line in Fund 126. Source

1. 2023-06-20Sixth penny rejected. The BCC did not raise the TDT from 5% to 6% after a TDC request; the motion died for lack of a second. Officials from Panama City Beach, Panama City and Mexico Beach backed the increase; some residents opposed it. Source
2. 2024-09-04Beach nourishment money opened to public safety. The BCC approved letting up to 10% of the beach-renourishment cent go to public safety (sheriff, PCB police, water safety, lifeguards). About $50 million in unused renourishment money was placed in reserves for emergencies. Visit PCB's share rose from 8% to 10% (annual budget $2.6M to $3.2M, per WMBB). Reporting figures do not fully reconcile. Source
3. 2025State legislation. 2025 House proposals (HB 1221 amendment, HB 7033) would have redirected bed-tax revenue to property-tax relief or required periodic renewal; local tourism groups opposed them. Source
4. 2026-01CVB credit card fraud charges. Two Visit PCB vice presidents were arrested on grand theft and fraudulent credit-card-use charges (allegations, not convictions). Investigators allege nearly $1 million in charges on one executive's company card from April 2024 to January 2026, of which about $58,000 was documented as business expense. The Clerk took over CVB finances. Source
5. 2026-01-30CEO resignation. Dan Rowe, CVB/TDC president and CEO for 18 years, resigned after being on paid leave since January 13. The TDC accepted the resignation on Feb 2, 2026. No reason was given in the article. Source
6. 2026-03-10New CEO. The TDC selected State Rep. Griff Griffitts as president & CEO. Some residents raised conflict-of-interest concerns about his continued legislative service; he said the TDC/CVB do not request state appropriations. Source
7. 2026-06-09SABRE event center paused. The TDC paused design of the SABRE Event Center / Western Regional Resiliency Center at Publix Sports Park, a facility WMBB described as $60 million, after an outside consultant recommended against the site. About $1.2M had been spent on design. The CVB FY2026 budget had $26,284,629 for the project. Source
8. 2026-08-25FY2027 plan. The TDC approved a FY2027 plan reported at more than $54 million. Source
9. 2026-10-01Collection agency change. TDT administration moved from the Clerk of Court to the Bay County Tax Collector. Source

Criminal charges described above are allegations, not convictions.