Two county boards sat down in mid-August 2026 with the same basic goal, figure out where things stand and what comes next. On Aug. 17, county commissioners used a workshop to hear the library system’s annual report. Then, on Aug. 19, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) signed off on event grants, threw its support behind a big new golf tournament, and redirected tourist-tax dollars to put more weight behind the county’s beaches. Below is a rundown of both meetings.
During the Aug. 17 workshop, the Library Board of Trustees told commissioners the Flagler County library system had put together “a pretty strong year of progress.” Library Director Holly Albanese delivered the annual report alongside former county commissioner Don O’Brien, now the chair of the Library Board of Trustees. O’Brien said the chair position landed in his lap by text while he was away in a class last September.
He took it, and, as he put it to the board, “So, of course, I said yes.” From his perspective, the year was marked by clear growth, especially in community programming and in the library’s passport services, which he described as better than anything else nearby. He also pointed to staff, saying they handled public dollars with care. O’Brien walked commissioners through the numbers. Across the system, more than 540,000 items circulated, e-books included.
The library put on 690 programs for youth and adults, drawing almost 25,000 attendees, and staff fielded nearly 27,000 reference and information questions. Public internet and Wi-Fi use totaled more than 52,000 sessions. Volunteers logged more than 6,700 hours, which O’Brien said would amount to about $180,000 in personnel costs. He noted volunteer participation dropped off during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been climbing again. One standout moment, O’Brien said, was the opening of the Nexus Community Center at the Bunnell branch in December. More than 450 people came out for the opening, the space carried close to 45,000 books, and in its first month 726 people joined in programs. Looking at photos from the celebration, he called it “just a wonderful day.”
At the Aug. 19 TDC meeting, members dealt with revenue from the county’s 5% tax on short-term stays, the tourist development tax. That tax is divided into five “pennies,” each representing 20% of the total. Most of it supports tourism marketing, while the remainder is set aside for beaches and capital projects. Tax update.
Amy Raider, speaking for the Flagler County Tax Collector’s Office, told the board collections remain steady and are up about 3.34%, around $46,000, compared with the prior year. Flagler County currently lists 1,625 active short-term rental accounts. Raider reminded owners that filing and paying the tax is their responsibility, and that they also need a local business tax receipt, renewed annually for $7.50. Over the past 90 days, the office carried out seven enforcement actions and still has 13 investigations open. She described the bright orange notice posted to a violator’s door as “really, really ugly” and “embarrassing for their neighbors,” then added, “it works.”
The TDC approved four reimbursement grants, meaning the organizations are repaid after they submit receipts. The United Flag Football tournament, set for Oct. 17–18, received up to $5,000 to cover referee costs. The event has been coming to Palm Coast for about 15 years and brings roughly 2,000 athletes. The Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics received up to $5,000 for its Nov. 8–10 conference at Hammock Beach Resort. Rebecca DeLorenzo said the association includes more than 110 clinics that serve uninsured Floridians. The Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, also known as the Flagler Auditorium, was approved for up to $15,000 for marketing. The venue’s new director, Craig Uppercue, introduced himself to the board. The largest grant, up to $50,000, went to support a new golf tournament.
Flagler County will host the Constellation Furyk & Friends PGA Tour Champions event for the first time, running Oct. 5–11. Tournament Director Adam Renfro said the event is operated by the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation and that proceeds go to charitable causes. The grant money will help cover shuttle transportation for fans traveling from Daytona State College to Hammock Beach Resort. Organizers are projecting more than 900 hotel room nights, and Renfro said planning has included months of coordination with the sheriff’s office, fire services, and emergency management on safety and logistics. He said the tournament will include 78 players, a Billy Currington concert, and live Golf Channel coverage that reaches about 1.3 million viewers per year across 170 countries. “Charity’s their mission, and we’re happy to be a part of it,” he said, adding, “I would like to compliment Flagler County, top to bottom.” Board member Stephen Baker abstained on both the golf tournament grant and the clinics grant. Beaches and budget. Interim County Administrator Adam Mangels asked the TDC to once again shift the capital-projects penny into the beach fund for 2026–27, repeating a move made last year to help cover beach maintenance.
Tourism Director Amy Lukasik supported the change, saying it gives the county time to develop a lasting plan for beach funding while it searches for a new administrator and a coastal engineer. If approved, the shift would move about $860,000 away from capital projects and into beach spending, raising the beaches share to 40% of the overall tax. The board then adopted its 2026–27 budgets, with tourist-tax revenue projected at roughly $4.3 million. Two budget votes passed, each with one “no.”
During public comment, Flagler Beach resident Kim Carney asked if the reallocation would prevent grant applications. Lukasik said the grant program was already on hold because there was no money available to award. Marketing and comments. Marketing staff delivered a quarterly update with recent social media performance, including a Bunnell mural video with about 34,000 views and a Waterfront Park video topping 46,000, and they said a new website is scheduled to launch in December. As the meeting wrapped up, board member Walker encouraged visitors to “come on down to Flagler County and Palm Coast.” Palm Coast Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri urged the TDC to push for a sports complex as part of the city’s Westward Expansion plan, joking that reading the planning document is “like watching paint dry.” A representative from Oceanside Beach Bar and Grill said businesses have been “looking for a breath of fresh air” after years of disruption. The chair noted the county might once again request state approval to add a sixth tax penny. Members also mentioned a Sept. 11 Tribute Climb and a Food and Wine Festival scheduled for Sept. 18–19.
