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Citrus County tourism leaders warn House bills could redirect visitor-tax revenue
Summary
Tourism officials at the Citrus County Tourist Development Council meeting urged members to watch two state House bills that would force a large share of bed-tax revenue into property-tax relief, dissolve local tourism councils and require periodic referenda; the council discussed outreach and messaging steps.
Citrus County Tourist Development Council members heard a warning Thursday that two pending Florida House bills could sharply limit how local bed taxes are used and could require new referenda on the tax.
Tourism staff summarized language in House Bill 733 and a second bill identified at the meeting as House Bill 1221 and described what the bills would do if enacted: require 75% of tourism development tax (TDT) revenue to be used as property-tax relief, eliminate TDT funding for tourism marketing and facilities, dissolve local tourism development councils and mandate a public referendum on local TDT every eight years. Staff said the bills had passed the Florida House but were not expected to pass the Senate, while noting nothing is final until votes occur.
The council’s marketing director said the county’s tourism economy relies on TDT-funded marketing to produce visitor spending, jobs and hotel room-night demand, and that shifting those dollars would amount to “political pandering” that returns only a few dollars in property-tax relief compared with what the county collects in visitor-generated economic activity. Staff presented calculations showing statewide per-household gains from the proposed change would be small—on the order of tens of dollars—while local tourism-driven economic impact and jobs would be at risk.
Members discussed outreach steps. Staff said they will continue to send talking points and updates, and encouraged members to contact local legislative representatives. The director asked the council to help tell the tourism industry’s economic story—jobs, local business revenue and the ability to respond quickly to events—if the bills move forward.
The discussion came as council members also reviewed recent marketing successes and a strategic plan process the board will finalize this summer. No formal action on the bills was taken at the meeting; staff said they will monitor the Legislature and provide additional guidance and sample messaging to the council.
Why it matters: The bills would change state-level rules about how TDT dollars are used and could remove a local revenue source used mainly for marketing, visitor centers and tourism infrastructure. Council members said those uses support jobs and local businesses and allow rapid, targeted marketing after events such as hurricanes.
