HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 073-2026 RESOLUTION NO. 073-2026
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
i
.- : :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. iThe.Board hereby.authorizes the commitment.of.tourist development tax revenues:in•the: :
- . •i • • amount of:$500,000 towards the:SCASD.g rant application.for marketing and minimum
• :• : •
pp
. .revenue:guaranty purposes.:. : . .. . . : .
: • . : • 2.: The Board directs staff to include:sucb.allocati.on 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•1 th day.of March 2026*.. . : • • • • .• : : •. : : : • •
•
• . • • - .
.. : : :•:: -Mayor MichelleLincoln,:Distri t 2. . : : :.. •.Yes..� .� � - .. : � :. : �•: • • . .• '
. May.or:Pro Teti' David Rice.;District 4 : : :: • •Yes :: • :.
--: : •-Commissioner Craig:Cates,District 1 ••.: : ••. : : : -'.: : Yes.-: :• : : . •:
. f. 4 •ommissioner James K.'.Scholl,District 3 ' • : Yes : • : - • • :
���� •mmissioner •Holly. Merrill Raschein District •5 Yes
Cl,.. ...: .. , ,, 0 2..3,A:. , _ft,
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. : • . . : :. :. : : BOARD OF COUNTY . : ' :•: : ' : : r•
.•' . . . • COMMISSIONERS:OF
.• - - ass _ �V� �� � • .. • .. ... . .. •
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• ==� _1 1 ._,r, EVIN MADOK, CLE• RK MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA •
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• ' : :•BY:. : - .. . .. . ' •• . . • .. . - . . BY: -.: . II.a, = /1r b. . . : .: : ' ': , :
. As:D:5 tity.Clerk: :. . : Mayor. • . .
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: • :• : :• :. Date : 3/3/26_ , . .';;•• • • : M .: r;,. • : • : :
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