Men:         49.7%

Women:   50.3%

Density:   199 people per square mile

Age Distribution:

0-14    years     19.6%

15-44  years     42.1%

45-64  years     24.7%

65+     years     13.5%

*Source: University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research
 

County land area:

 764 square miles

Per capita personal income (2002): 

 $25,774

*Source Agency for Workforce Innovation

Median gross rent cost:

 $465

Median house purchase price (2003): 

 $140,700

*Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development
 

Florida has no personal income tax or inheritance tax. There is a state corporate tax of 5.5 percent on net income with an exemption on the first $5,000 of corporate profit. There is a retail sales tax of six percent. Ad valorem (real estate) taxes combine city, county and school district levies, plus special assessments. Florida’s Homestead Exemption Act saves home owners taxes on the first $25,000 of assessed value. Property is assessed at approximately 100 percent of true market value. Bay County ranks among the lowest millage rates in the state.

Corporate Income Tax: 5.5 percent

Personal Income Tax: None

State Retail Sales Tax: 6 percent

Gasoline Tax: $0.125 per gallon

To become a legal resident of Florida, one must establish a dwelling place and demonstrate the intent to make Florida the place of permanent residence. There is no fixed waiting period for residency. A sworn statement declaring residency may be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bay County. There is a small service charge for recording the affidavit. Call 850-763-9061 for information or visit http://www.baycoclerk.com.

A Florida driver’s license is required within 30 days for any driver who becomes a resident of Florida, is employed in Florida, or registers a child in a Florida public school. To obtain a driver’s license you need a social security card and a current Florida vehicle registration and proof of insurance.

New residents who have a current driver’s license from another state are required to pass only the vision portion of the examination.   Some states require a passport or certified birth certificate in order to obtain a Florida driver's license.  First-time applicants must take vision, written and road tests. Applicants should make an appointment to take the drivers examination.

The cost of a first time Florida license is $20. The license is valid for six years. License renewal is $15 and a replacement license is $10.

If you are NOT a US citizens, please call to see what information you will need to obtain your driver's license.

5420 N. Lakewood Drive, Parker

850-872-4486

Hours: (Tu -Th) (7:30am - 6:00pm)

17109 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach  (No road tests)

850-233-5035

New residents must register their vehicles and obtain a Florida license tag within 10 days of establishing legal residency or prior to beginning work or registering children in the public school system.  Military personnel and students are exempt. Proof of Florida insurance, a copy of your out-of-state title or registration, and a completed Florida State Form 82042 which verifies the vehicle’s identification number and odometer readings is required. 

For more information visit http://bctc.elementaldata.com.

648 Mulberry Avenue, Panama City

850-784-4090

Hours: (M-F)(8am -5pm)

17109 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach

850-233-5035

Hours: (M-F)(8am - 4:30pm)

801 Florida Ave., Lynn Haven

850-271-8850

Hours: (M-F)(8am -5pm )

5416 N. Lakewood Drive, Parker

850-872-4654

Hours: (M-F) (8:30am - 5pm)

Voter registration may be done at the Bay County Registration and Elections office, local libraries, drivers license offices or by mail. Florida voters must be a legal resident of Florida and the appropriate county, be 18 years old by Election day and have no felony record. Voter registration must be completed 29 days prior to the election. The Supervisor of Elections office is located at 205 Mosley Drive, Lynn Haven, FL 32444. The phone number is 850-784-6100 and office hours are (M-F) (8am - 5pm).  For more information visit http://www.bayvote.org.

Electric, gas, telephone and water companies require deposits for first time service in the area. Deposits vary in each municipality.

Gulf Power Company

800-225-5797

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

850-265-3631

TECO Peoples Gas

1-877-832-6747

BellSouth

Residential: 850-780-2355

Business: 850-780-2800

Knology

Residential: 850-215-4400

Business: 850-215-5444

REGISTERING FOR SCHOOL

Students registering in Bay County Public Schools for the first time must present the following:

- One document showing proof of residency within the school district.

- A Certificate of Immunization (HRS Form 680) which is available from private physicians  

  or the local Public Health Department.

- Proof of a medical examination within the past 12 months if your child is entering a Florida

  school for the first time.

- Birth certificate of the Child being registered

- Child’s Social Security Card

- Incoming seventh grade students must have proof (HRS Form 680) of a series of

   immunizations that includes a second dose of Measles vaccine, Hepatitus-B

   (at least the first in series of three) and tetanus-diphtheria vaccine.

Curriculum

The Sunshine State Standards and Benchmarks, a listing of what Florida’s students should know and be able to do, form the basis of the curriculum offered in Bay District schools. Standards focus on seven traditional academic areas: Language Arts (including reading & writing), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, The Arts, Health & Physical Education, and Foreign Languages. Students in pre-Kindergarten through adult education experience a varied curriculum designed to fit a wide variety of needs and interests. The school district has also adopted challenging technology standards for students and teachers that includes extensive work in computer technology.

(Area Code is 850)

General Information 872-4100

Bozeman                                        265-9887

Callaway                                         871-2645

Cedar Grove                                    872-4550

Hiland Park                                     872-4685

Hutchinson                                     233-5118

Lucille Moore                                  872-4770

Lynn Haven                                    265-2131

Cherry Street                                  872-4780

Millville                                           872-4765

Northside                                        872-4760

Oakland Terrace                              872-4565

Parker                                            872-4750

Patronis                                         233-5075

Patterson                                       872-4675

Southport                                       265-2810

Springfield                                      872-4575

Tommy Smith                                 872-7540

Tyndall                                           286-6481

Waller                                            722-4341

West Bay                                       233-5135

Everitt                                             872-4790

Jinks                                               872-4695

Merritt Brown                                   872-4740

Mowat                                             271-6140

Rosenwald                                       872-4580

Surfside                                           233-5180

A.D. Harris                                      872-4590

Arnold                                             236-3070

Bay                                                872-4600

Haney Technical                              747-5500

Mosley                                           872-4400

Rutherford                                       872-4500

Charter Schools

Bay Haven Charter Academy            913-3463

M.K. Lewis Center                           872-4775

New Horizons                                  873-7170

St. Andrew School                           872-4595

Shaw Adult Center                           872-4555