BUNNELL, Fla. — Flagler County officials hosted a workshop Monday afternoon to further discuss beach nourishment funding.

They heard a presentation from Public Financial Management Group, a consultant the county hired to conduct a funding study to test the community’s interest in the program.

Earlier this year, the county sent out a survey asking residents whether they were willing to contribute financially to maintain the 18 miles of beaches in Flagler County. According to the PFM Group, of more than 3,300 residents who took the survey, 76% of respondents said they were willing to have their household pay something to support the project financially.

The commission also evaluated a comparison of what other coastal communities have done in similar situations.

According to the study conducted by the PFM Group, the county must contribute money if it is to qualify for state and federal dollars. The annual cost of re-nourishing and maintaining all 18 miles is estimated to be $9 to $10 million. The county’s share is estimated to be $6 million to $7 million.

Flagler County Coastal Engineering Administrator Ansley Wren-Key said it’s important for the county to contribute with local funds so they can qualify for state and federal funding.

“It is needed. There is a long-term erosion rate plus, since hurricane Matthew, the beach has really undergone a lot of erosion and it hasn’t recovered," Wren-Key said. "We’ve come in and we’ve done temporary small emergency projects, like building the dunes back. But the beach is completely deflated."

Two possible ways to get the funds are either a Municipal Services Taxing Unit, that would have been more like a property tax, levied according to the value of one’s property, or through a Municipal Services Benefit Unit approach, which would be levied by way of a fee, not a property tax. A fee is more uniform, depending on where it is levied. The county is considering pursuing the MSBU approach. 

County officials said they still have work to do as they will examine all aspects of this new initiative before moving forward.

No decision was made at Monday's meeting.