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Tourism Development
Tourism is Florida’s leading industry
Dixie County
Has significant potential for Nature & Cultural Heritage Tourism
Tourist Development Council (TDC)
Composition – Prescribed by State Law (Elected Officials and representatives from lodging, attraction and restaurant businesses)
Appointed by County Commissioners
Purpose – Develop Tourist Development Plan and recommend prioritized list of tourism development spending
Nine Member Council Appointed by the governing board (BOCC)
Chair of BOCC or governing board member designated by chair
2-members elected municipal officials of which (1) of these must be from most populous municipality in the county
6-members shall be persons who are involved in the tourist industry
Not less than(3) nor more than (4) shall be owners or operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other accommodations in the county
Why Consider a Tourist Development Tax?
Help expands economic development Tourism IS
economic development
Provide a revenue source to fund tourism promotion other than use of Ad Valorem taxes
Widespread acceptance by visitors throughout the state – 59 of Florida’s 67 counties
Approval of Tourist Development Tax
Florida Statue Section 125.0104
Must be adopted by the County Commissioners as an ordinance
Subsequently, approved by a majority of the voters at the November election
Tax collection, if approved by voters, would begin two months after elections
Tourist Development Tax
What is taxable?
Who pays it?
How is it collected?
How will the money be used?
What is taxable & What is not
What is taxable: Rentals for less than 6 months involving hotels, motels, condos, RV and campgrounds
What is not taxable: Food and beverage, phone calls, beds and gate entrance fees to attractions
Who Pays the Tax?
Primarily paid by visitors to Dixie County
Tourists, Winter Residents and Visitors who rent accommodations for less than six months
Collection of Tourist Development Tax
Put on customer’s bill regular sales tax
Vendor receives dealer collection allowance
Vendor remits tax to Florida Dept. of Revenue
Dept. of Revenue returns money to Dixie County Monthly
With Tourist’ Dollars, WE CAN
Attract tourist
Advertising & Marketing (Pure Water Wilderness & Original Florida)
Fishing Piers
Facilities
Events – Promotion of existing ones and developing new ones
Host softball tournaments, fishing tournaments, bicycling and birding events
Tax Rate and Projected Collections
Commissioners have the option of a 1% or 2% tax should opt for 2%
As tourism grows, revenues would increase
Benefits of Tourism Development Tax
Economic Development – JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
Marketing of Nature & Heritage attracts the least intrusive and most affluent visitors
Promotion achieved without spending local taxpayers money
VOTE YES
Let visitors to the area put their 2-cent in and help Dixie County
Vote “YES” for adoption of the Dixie County 2% Tourism Development Tax
Promote Dixie County as a tourism destination
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