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Tourist Development Council approves FY‑26 budget; doubles high‑impact events line for sports incentives
Summary
The Tourist Development Council on May 15 approved the proposed FY‑26 budget, increasing the high‑impact events incentives line and maintaining funding for core tourism partners.
The Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council on May 15 unanimously approved its proposed budget recommendations for fiscal 2026–27, including a notable increase to the high‑impact events incentives line and continued baseline funding for recurring partner programs.
Ron Barton, presenting the midyear financials and the proposed exhibits, said the budget maintains funding for core partners — Visit Tampa Bay, the Sports Commission and the Film Commission — and proposes to roughly double the allocation for high‑impact events to seed incentives for large sports and cultural events. “The most significant change that I’ve proposed here is in the category of the high impact events,” Barton said, explaining staff raised that line because of success and pipeline activity.
Barton told the council staff used conservative revenue growth assumptions when building the budget: he said staff used a 12% growth rate from FY25 to FY26, then 6% and 5% for subsequent model years to establish a base for allocations. The proposed budget preserves line items for visitor centers, out‑of‑area marketing and physical improvements at Ybor City and Plant City visitor facilities. Exhibit breakouts show the county’s standard partners and program funding, including a continuation of the corporate/group demand and visitor experience programs.
Barton also said the cultural and attraction capital line (six‑cent allocation) is structured for smaller capital requests from seven designated tourism and cultural facilities and can be adjusted by staff if an opportunity arises to seed indoor sports facility planning without harming the program. He told the council he would return in August with any proposed reallocations.
Board member Mr. Manthey moved to approve the budget and Miss Gonzales Williams seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Council members asked clarifying questions about growth assumptions and coop marketing mechanics; Visit Tampa Bay staff explained the museum cooperative is a matching arrangement that leverages Visit Tampa Bay’s marketing channels for select museum exhibits and campaigns rather than a direct grant.
The council also voted earlier in the meeting to accept the midyear financial report and other routine items by unanimous voice vote.
