On Tuesday of this week the Escambia County Tourist Development Advisory Council voted 5-2 to recommend that the county levy the 5th cent of the bed tax on tourists. This has been a hot-button topic that has consistently run into heavy opposition from hoteliers recently.
At Tuesday's meeting, the motion to recommend to the BCC the levying of the 5th cent was made by Jim Reeves and seconded by David Bear. After discussions among the council, the vote was taken and by a 5-2 vote the measure to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that they levy this fee on hotel and resort visitors passed. Those voting for the measure were Shirley Cronley, David Bear, Robert Bender, Nan Harper, and Ronnie Rivera. The two members voting against were P.C. Wu and Jim Reeves.
The TDC will be requesting that the BCC levy the 5th cent immediately, but that the board put the proceeds from the 5th cent into a reserve account until such time as the county and the TDC iron out the most beneficial use of this new revenue to support tourism locally.
Most counties throughout Florida already levy 5 or 6 cents. Escambia County, somewhat of an outlier, only levies 4 cents.
Each cent generates roughly $2.5 Million yearly in revenue that can be used for a variety of purposes that support tourism. The lion's share of our 4 cents' worth of this revenue locally supports advertising our area to out-of-town markets.
For this to take effect, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners must schedule a public hearing and pass an ordinance authorizing this levy. The measure must pass via a supermajority, with at least 4 commissioners supporting it, in order for this levy to take effect.
I assume the public hearing will be scheduled in January.
excellent news
ReplyDeleteNote Underhill is posting mis information on his facebook page (S) and has multitudes buy into his BS. Dupes. Maybe it has to do with Bear filing yet another suit on him and the BOCC on the 10th, yes I see it.
ReplyDeleteYes Escambia has needed to raise the 1 cent... on the TDT. One Penny. Blue Plate Special. Isn't a penny 1%, not 25% -- Underhill math?
The epic pissing matches via law warfare are reasons for the average citizens to stay away. All the people that agree with him seem like zombies.
We are now at the same level many of the other counties around here utilize the tax. The tourists should pay and the backers who live in Santa Rosa County need to know that we know, they try to dip into Escambia's tax base.
So -- no roundabouts either.
Thank you for your leadership.
https://floridarevenue.com/Forms_library/current/dr15tdt.pdf
ReplyDeleteCommissioner, this is an honest question. Can any of the TDT monies be used for infrastructure? We have a bridge leading to the beach that generates most of that money needing replacement in the not so distant future. Can some of that money be set aside for it? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMichael P McCormack
Get it on the agenda please
ReplyDelete