Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism Economy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Suwannee County opposes House bill that would restrict use of tourist development tax; board adopts resolution 5-0
Summary
The Suwannee County Commission unanimously adopted a resolution opposing an amendment to House Bill 7033 that would significantly curtail uses of tourist development tax revenue and redirect most funds toward ad valorem tax reduction, citing the potential harm to local tourism promotion and jobs.
Suwannee County commissioners voted 5-0 Wednesday to adopt a resolution opposing an amendment to House Bill 7033 (amendment 030825) that would limit authorized uses of tourist development tax dollars and direct most revenue toward a small reduction in property taxes.
Carissa (tourism official) and board members briefed the commission on the local role of the tourist development tax (TDT): the county’s 3% TDT is collected from overnight visitors at hotels, campgrounds and short-term rentals and is used exclusively for tourism promotion and related activities administered by the local tourism office and tourism development council. County and tourism staff said the tax is paid by visitors, not residents, and that tourism supports jobs and local spending that reduce the local property-tax burden.
Carissa told the board that in Suwannee County TDT revenue totaled about $400,000 in fiscal 2023–24 and that tourism’s economic impact is estimated at $109.2 million with roughly 1,476 jobs supported, figures the county cited from Visit Florida data. The proposed amendment would redirect 75% of TDT funds to ad valorem tax relief and dramatically limit tourism promotion uses, the presenters said, producing a de minimis reduction in local property tax but large losses to tourism marketing and events.
Commissioners discussed the potential statewide origin of the amendment and the disproportionate effect on small, rural counties. County attorney and staff noted that the amendment had passed the Florida House on April 25, prompting urgency for a county response. The board approved a resolution directed to the Florida Legislature urging rejection of the amendment. Motion to adopt the resolution was made by Commissioner White and seconded by Commissioner Perkins; the vote was 5-0.
The board asked staff to transmit the resolution to the county’s legislative delegation and to coordinate with neighboring rural counties and local hoteliers; county staff indicated outreach to regional counterparts was already underway.
