ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida tourism generates nearly $1.4 billion a year through the tourist development tax, commonly known as TDT, but who should decide how that money is spent?
Right now, state lawmakers in Tallahassee control the rules governing the tax — including where the money can be used and how much local governments must spend on tourism advertising and promotion to qualify for funding, but recently there’s been a renewed push for more local control.
Supporters of changing the rules point to cities such as Las Vegas, where tourism revenue can help fund infrastructure and services used by both visitors and residents — including roads, water systems and other public projects, however as Christoper Heath noted, “The resounding answer from Florida tourism lobby has been ‘Hell no’.”
Earlier this month, District 5 Orange County Commissioner Kelly Semrad renewed calls for more local control over what she calls “the people’s dollars.”
A similar idea has also entered the governor’s race, as Democratic candidate David Jolly proposed creating a catastrophe fund using tourism tax revenue, arguing that Florida may need to replenish emergency reserves and, as stated in the Pensacola News Journal, using some of that revenue for education.
“I’ve actually proposed a 10-year plan that provides immediately a 30% pay raise for teachers — moves us into the top half nationally. Invest in failing infrastructure, we have some beautiful schools, but in too many communities, our schools have been abandoned…Jolly outlined.
Critics warn of higher costs
Republican candidate Byron Donalds quickly criticized Jolly’s proposal, calling it a hurricane tax. Donalds argued that the plan could increase costs for homeowners by shifting some of the burden and risk from one insurance pool to another.
The debate comes as local officials and state leaders continue to disagree over whether tourism tax dollars should be limited primarily to tourism promotion, or whether communities should have greater flexibility to use the money for projects that also benefit residents.
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