FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday on transferring the collection of bed taxes from the clerk of court to the tax collector.
The board is expected to vote on the change following the hearing.
A majority of commissioners are in support of tax collector Ben Anderson’s bid to take over the collection, enforcement and audit of tourist development taxes. The board voted 4-1 on March 19 to move forward with the public hearing. Commissioner Dave Parisot opposed the measure.
“I think there’s a very strong indication from that vote what the feeling of the board is,” clerk of court Don Howard said.
Howard said he will attend Tuesday’s hearing but has no plans to argue against the transfer.
“When the law gives (commissioners) that authority, certainly I’m going to respect that,” he added.
Anderson’s proposal to shift bed tax collection is in direct direct response to the clerk of court’s role in processing the questionable purchases made by former tourism head Mark Bellinger.
Anderson has blamed Howard’s office for the county’s financial losses resulting from Bellinger’s thefts and criticized the clerk for not discovering the fraud earlier.
He said the transfer would provide the county with greater checks and balances.
“It brings a credibility in helping the public have their confidence restored in the government,” he said.
Anderson also has predicted that his office could increase bed tax collections by 25 percent during the first year.
Howard currently has one employee overseeing the collection, enforcement and auditing of bed tax revenue. Anderson said he can immediately assign three employees to those duties.
If the board approves the transfer, the change will take effect Oct. 1.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.