As you may know, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners recently approved the adoption of an additional $0.01 Tourist Development Tax north of the Choctawhatchee Bay. But what does that one penny really mean?
In 2020, the citizens of Walton County voted to begin collecting TDT taxes (commonly referred to as “bed taxes”) north of Choctawhatchee Bay, in the North Walton Taxing District, on short-term rental stays of six months or less. This can include a variety of accommodations ranging from campgrounds and hotels to rental homes, cottages and cabins.
When the initial TDT ordinance was approved, collections were set at two percent, or two pennies, based on the state statute. In 2023, the BCC had the option to increase the number of pennies collected north of the Bay based on majority vote. On June 26th, the BCC approved the additional penny tax, bringing total TDT collections for the North Walton Taxing District to three percent, or three pennies.
It’s important to note that usage of TDT funds is dictated by state statute and can only be used for certain expenditures, including marketing and promotional efforts for the destination. With that in mind, the team at Walton County Tourism has exciting plans to use the additional funds to share the story of Walton County’s rich history, heritage and ecological gems north of the Bay.
