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