CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Thomas called the Special Meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. at Cinco Bayou Town Hall.

PRESENT

ALSO PRESENT

Tina Smith, Deputy Town Clerk - Shalimar

BUSINESS 

Agree on formula for the 40% -- Mayor Thomas explained that this meeting was called so that the Executive Board could agree on a distribution formula for each cities' share of the gas tax revenue.  If the 9 municipalities are not able to come to a unanimous decision regarding the distribution formula, it will revert back to the 67/33 five-year look back default formula.

There was some discussion after Commissioner Strong and City Manager Reid Silverboard presented their ideas for the formula.  The members could not come to a decision on a whether to use a formula based on population or based on expenditures look back.

Mayor Combs presented his “win-win” formula, which was a compromise between a per capita formula and a formula based on a five-year look back.  The board decided that Mayor Combs’ numbers were a good starting point.

Mayor Combs had to leave the meeting but stated before he left that the $40,000 starting point was acceptable for Shalimar.  Valparaiso started out at $155,000 and asked for an additional $20,000.  Mary Esther, at $115,000, then stepped up and asked for $10,000 more.  Mayor Barker acknowledged that if the 3 bigger cities, Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Crestview, would each give $10,000, that would make up for the $30,000 for Valparaiso and Mary Esther.  Fort Walton Beach did not want to give up $10,000 so Crestview and Destin agreed to give up $15,000 each.  Mary Esther then asked for $5,000 more to bring them up to $130,000.  Laurel Hill started at $25,000 which they accepted, Cinco Bayou started out at $25,000 which they accepted, Niceville started out at $290,000 which they accepted, Destin, after giving up $15,000, was now at $517,000 which they accepted, Crestview was now at $515,000 and Mayor Whitehurst asked if he could give $5,000 to Laurel Hill to bring him down to $510,000.  Fort Walton Beach was at $640,000 and stayed with that amount.  At this point the board was only $5,000 away.  Niceville was asked if they would be willing to go from $290,000 to $285,000 and they agreed to it. 

Jill Silverboard passed out a sample resolution.  This resolution must be passed by all 9 councils/commissions and turned in to the county by Tuesday, May 29.  The resolution will have an exhibit attached that shows the formula percentages.  It was decided that all of the cities will bring their approved, signed resolutions to the Mary Esther Town Hall and someone from Mary Esther will bring all of them to the county together.

Mayor Barker moved that Fort Walton Beach be allocated 10.8840%, Crestview 8.6734%, Destin 8.7925%, Niceville 4.8465%, Mary Esther 2.2109%, Valparaiso 2.9762%, Laurel Hill .5102%, Cinco Bayou .4252% and Shalimar .6803%.  Councilwoman Fay Miller seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on Monday, June 2, 2003 at 12:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:12 p.m.