Florida passes bill to expand use of tourism tax dollars
The Florida House of Representatives has passed a proposal to expand the scope of tax funds for investing in tourism related activities.
The Tourist Development Tax (TDT) generated more than $600 million in 2016 and may be used for beach maintenance, tourism promotion activities and the construction of convention centers.
However when Hurricane Irma hit the state the current law banned the use of tax funds to help the clean-up in tourist areas.
The new amendment sponsored by Rep. Randy Fine would now allow more flexibility to improve or reconstruct ‘tourist-related business activity.’
It now allows tax dollars to be spent on various infrastructure measures, sewage and drainage if it directly relates to enhancing tourism facilities or infrastructure.
However there are caveats to stop counties from siphoning off money for non-tourism related projects.
Independent analysis must show a tangible benefit for tourism and TDT cannot make up more than 70% of total funding for any single project.
"We are not telling local governments what to do. We’re simply saying in addition to the 15 things you can spend money on today, if you want access to this 16th thing, you can do it if your tourist-development council recommends it," Fine said.
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