LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Live Oak City Council made a change to its economic development agreement with Suwannee County on Tuesday.

Which was news to county officials.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council passed Resolution 18-04, regarding the funding for the Economic Development program.

The resolution states the city will provide $6,250 quarterly towards the economic development program so long as the office is funded by Suwannee County, effective immediately.

The resolution adds that quarterly written reports are expected from the county administrator describing details of all economic development activities.

This resolution replaces Resolution 15-1-A, which was the previous agreement for the economic development program.

According to the original resolution, the city paid $47,028.50 yearly towards the economic development director salary.

That amount sparked discussion during the city’s budgeting process last fall. However, the city council decided at that time to reexamine its contribution later since the county had already approved its budget with that original amount.

County Commissioner Ricky Gamble said the city had not communicated with the county regarding the change and has added the item to the agenda for discussion at the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting this next Tuesday.

He said the county already has a set budget with the city contributing $47,028.50, not the lesser amount that would save the city $22,028.50 per year.

“It has become obvious over the last couple of years that the policy difference between county and city have set each on a different course in regards to economic development,” Gamble said. “One has to ask if this is the city’s attempt to continue in a different direction by creating their own economic development department?”