MSTU VOTE PASSES GULF-FRONT AND GULF-SIDE

   The voter response for the MSTU votes was an impressive 74% in the first-ever mailout ballot for Gulf County.  The gulf-front and gulf-side MSTUs passed with comfortable margins and the bayside failed by only 5 votes.  The actual breakdown is Gulf Front, 41 votes for, 6 against; Gulf Interior, 47 for, 17 against; Bayside, 27 for and 32 against.  A total of 9 ballots were returned to the Supervisor of Elections as undeliverable and 9 ballots were voided by the canvassing committee for errors or omissions in the ballot. 

   As a reminder, here's the survey results from our May 23rd blast:

RESULTS BY CLASSIFICATION  

181 Gulf-front parcels voted yes, representing 93% of the total answers from gulf-front parcels, that they would support an MSTU for beach restoration.

288 Gulf Interior parcels voted yes, representing 92% of the total answers from gulf interior parcels, that they would support an MSTU for beach restoration.

58 Bayside parcels voted yes, representing 91% of the total answers from bayside parcels, that they would support an MSTU for beach restoration.

   The answers to Questions 1 (I received adequate information) and 2 (the beaches should be restored) resulted in even higher percentages of "yes" votes.  Once it has been determined that all remaining mail-in surveys have been received, a final report on the entire survey results will be posted on the website.

SJPBAC RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOCC TUESDAY NIGHT

   In its regular meeting today, the SJPBAC reviewed the referendum results and will make recommendations to the Gulf County BOCC at its regular Tuesday meeting to move forward with the project as designed.  Prior to the conclusion of the budgeting process, the committee will recommend through its finance committee to the BOC the first-year MSTU rates for the two MSTUs based on the original projections published prior to the vote.  The committee has explored and will recommend other sources to the commission to recover any deficit created by the elimination of the bayside MSTU.  However, the bayside's contribution of only 5% of the overall project cost, or some $78,000 per year, may prove unncessary if the project estimation is only slightly reduced, if one secondary beach access is achieved, or a variety of other options under exploration are utilized.

   We'd like to sincerely thank all the members of the committee for their hard work on this project so far.  We still have a lot more work to do, but as a community, working together, we will continue to bring the dream of our restored beach to reality!