HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem I05COUNTY of MONROE
The Florida Keys
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Michelle Lincoln, District 2
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice, District 4
Craig Cates, District 1
James K. Scholl, District 3
Holly Merrill Raschein, District 5
Regular Meeting
March 11, 2026
Agenda Item Number: I5
26-0658
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Airports
TIME APPROXIMATE: N/A STAFF CONTACT: Richard Strickland
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a Resolution authorizing the commitment of Tourist
Development Tax Revenues in the amount of $500,000.00 from the FY 2027 TDC budget to fund a
minimum revenue guaranty and promotional marketing as match funds towards the Small Community
Air Service Development (SCASD) grant application to provide new commercial airline service at the
Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, contingent upon the Monroe County Tourist
Development Council (TDC) board reviewing and making a recommendation for special project
funding.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The Executive Director of Airports intends to submit the SCASD Grant to
support commercial airline service at MTH, and the SCASD grant requires a list of the amount of the
matching funds the applicant will provide.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: On February 18, 2026, the staff gave a presentation
and discussed the steps needed to support future commercial airline service at MTH.
INSURANCE REQUIRED: No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
Resolution to use TDC funds for MRG & Marketing at MTH
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $500,000
Effective Date: n/a
Expiration Date: n/a
Total Dollar Value of Contract: n/a
Total Cost to County: n/a
Current Year Portion: $0
Budgeted: Yes
Source of Funds: FY2027 TDC Fund 116
CPI: n/a
Indirect Costs: n/a
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts: n/a
Revenue Producing: No If yes, amount: n/a
Grant: SCASD
County Match: To be determined
Insurance Required: No
RESOLUTION NO. -2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA TO AUTHORIZE THE
USE OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX
REVENUES TO FUND A MINIMUM
REVENUE GUARANTY AND
PROMOTIONAL MARKETING FOR
PURPOSES OF PROVIDING COMMERCIAL
AIRLINE SERVICE TO THE FLORIDA KEYS
MARATHON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WHEREAS, Monroe County (hereafter "County") owns and operates the Florida Keys
Marathon International Airport (hereafter "Airport") located in the City of Marathon Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Airport has served the City of Marathon and the Middle Florida Keys
primarily as a general aviation airport since the U.S. Navy transferred the facility to Monroe
County at the end of World War 11; and
WHEREAS, the County has tried on 2 previous occasions, with the most recent attempt
being made in 2008, to attract Airline service to the Airport; and
WHEREAS, since the attempt in 2008, the City of Marathon has significantly developed
its tourist offerings and accommodations; and
WHEREAS, at the February 18,2026 regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of County
Commissioners (hereinafter "the Board"), Daniel Samess, CEO of the Marathon Chamber of
Commerce stated that the local resorts are "excited' about the prospect of bringing additional
tourists in via airline service which would put "more heads in beds"; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Director of Airports intends to submit a Small Community Air
Service Development (SCASD) Grant in order to bring air service to the Airport; and
WHEREAS, the SCASD grant requires matching funds and requires that an applicant list
the amount of the matching funds the applicant will provide; and
WHEREAS, the minimum revenue guarantee is needed to support the new Airline Service
to the Airport and the Airline service will have, as one of its main purposes, the attraction of tourist
as evidenced by the promotion of the service via the marketing funding that is also part of the
funding request; and
WHERAS, the Board hereby desires to express its commitment to provide $500,000 in
Tourist Development Tax Revenue funding towards that SCASD grant and finds that supporting
and expending tourist development tax revenues for this purpose promotes tourism and is
otherwise permissible and authorized in accordance with F.S. 125.0104(5); and
WHEREAS, the Tourist Development Council (TDC) will review and make their
recommendation for this funding as part of the upcoming 2027 fiscal year budget approval process;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
1. The Board hereby authorizes the commitment of tourist development tax revenues in the
amount of $500,000 towards the SCASD grant application for marketing and minimum
revenue guaranty purposes.
2. The Board directs staff to include such allocation of the tourist development tax funds in
the upcoming FY 2027 Budget upon the review and recommendation of the tourist
development council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a meeting of said Board held on the 1 lth day of March 2026.
Mayor Michelle Lincoln, District 2
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice, District 4
Commissioner Craig Cates, District 1
Commissioner James K. Scholl, District 3
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein, District 5
(SEAL)
Attest: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
BY:
As Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY:
r
Mayor