Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie1
Just got the mail ballot and it does not explain the Tourism Tax the county wants to re-instate. I know it is not much for people that do AIRBNB etc but an additional 2% is at least something! Wish it was a graduated scale with short term rentals being taxed at a significantly higher rate!
Anyway, all the proceeds go to the Tourism Commission which allocates the money based on applications submitted by groups within the county.
Anyway, for those that do not know the details, here is a summary!
According to Sumter County's proposal, the 2% tax applies to transient rentals of six months or less. It is paid by the guest/renter, not directly by county residents unless they rent qualifying lodging themselves.
Examples include:
Hotels and motels
Campgrounds and RV parks
Bed-and-breakfasts
Condominiums rented short-term
Short-term vacation rentals (such as Airbnb and **** properties)
Mobile home parks and other temporary lodging accommodations
The tax would apply to the rental charges and certain mandatory fees, including:
Room or rental rates
Mandatory cleaning fees
Non-refundable pet fees
Resort or amenity fees
IT DOES NOT APPLY TO:
Ordinary retail purchases
Restaurant meals
Gasoline
Property taxes
Long-term rentals exceeding six months
Lodging transactions that are exempt from Florida transient rental sales tax
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We are not kids and have heard it all before actually in other states as well. Taxes we fought the American Revolution over taxes. It is truly simple everyone wants and no one wants to pay. Tax tourists-they don't vote. OOPS tourism is a large business in Florida.
THANKFUL we can complain. Finding solutions is the hard part. Finding solutions that ALL would agree to-is the impossible part. It is possible but will not happen. Imagine with AI you could explore the alternatives. That will cost YOU $$$$$$. That choice and we will have to cut this and this and that. Unlike the Federal government states must have a balanced budget. Issuing bonds, a common practice is used but it is taking on debt that is part of the budget for following years-kicking the cost down the road.