Flagler County Tax Collector Shelley Edmonson told the Tourist Development Council on Jan. 15 that collections of the county’s tourist development (bed) tax remain in line with prior years and that enforcement of short‑term rental compliance is ongoing.

Edmonson said the office collected “just over the 4,300,000” for the last fiscal year and that December collections showed a notable uptick compared with earlier months. She also reported the county currently tracks 1,647 tourist tax accounts and that single‑family short‑term rentals make up the largest share of those accounts.

Edmonson described enforcement and audit activity as a continuing focus. She told the council the tax collector’s office currently has five enforcement actions under way, one pending tax warrant, and one tax warrant already executed; the office is investigating about 10 additional accounts. The office employs a paid third‑party vendor to find listings advertised online and capture screenshots when listings are taken down so the county retains a record for audit or enforcement.

On public outreach, Edmonson said the tax collector’s office places informational inserts in tax bills, maintains an anonymous reporting button on its website and displays information at its public counters. She said the anonymous report feature produced five reports in the prior 90 days, above the typical one to two reports the office sees in the same window.

The council’s chair noted conflicts-of-interest disclosures from prior votes and then accepted Edmonson’s presentation without further action.

Edmonson closed by introducing herself to the council: “My name is Shelly Edmonson. I’m your new tax collector,” and thanked members for their time.

Why it matters: Tourist tax revenue funds marketing, beach restoration and capital projects in Flagler County. The tax collector’s enforcement and auditing efforts directly affect compliance and revenue flow to those programs.