[Northwoods]

On Oct. 13, the Sumter County Commissioners are holding a public hearing to decide the future of the county tourist tax. I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) the tourist tax is an "occupancy tax" paid by Sumter hotels. The tax is used to help fund events that bring tourists to the county. Part of the tax helps fund entertainment at Sumter and Brownwood squares.
In the POA bulletin it says that commissioners have indicated they want to eliminate the tax.
What am I missing? Why would "we" want to repeal the tax? It doesn't cost taxpayers anything. That tax helps pay for square entertainment... so to continue to have nightly entertainment the money has to come from somewhere else. Sell tickets? Only have entertainment a few nights a week?
Can someone explain the benefit of repealinig that tax?

[Happydaz]

Maybe because The Villages (r) owned Brownwood Hotel now has to pay this tax? Added fees that increase the price of hotel rooms may deter some groups from renting rooms, meeting rooms, etc. from a particular hotel.

[graciegirl]

Florida Tourist Tax -

[Toymeister]

Details matter.

Occupancy tax is collected for rentals 180 days or less. The landlord pays it, although it may be rolled up in the rent. It is a state requirement, the county cannot repeal this tax. The state will collect a tourism tax on behalf of the county. In Sumter county it is one percent. County officials can repeal or change this tax but not the state's tax.

Even if the tourism tax is repealed occupancy tax will be paid. It is 8% in Sumter County. References to sales tax or occupancy tax in this thread are 100% incorrect. The link referred to by the poster above is dangerously inaccurate.

The form you file with the state specifically includes a line for the tourism tax. It IS NOT 12% as that article states.

[Northwoods]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

Details matter.

Occupancy tax is collected for rentals 180 days or less. The landlord pays it, although it may be rolled up in the rent. It is a state requirement, the county cannot repeal this tax. The state will collect a tourism tax on behalf of the county. In Sumter county it is one percent. County officials can repeal or change this tax but not the state's tax.

Even if the tourism tax is repealed occupancy tax will be paid. It is 8% in Sumter County. References to sales tax or occupancy tax in this thread are 100% incorrect. The link referred to by the poster above is dangerously inaccurate.

The form you file with the state specifically includes a line for the tourism tax. It IS NOT 12% as that article states.

I might have said "occupancy" in my post but it is a County Tourist Development Tax. I believe it is a tax paid by hotels (not rentals). A portion of that tax is used to fund entertainment at Sumter and Brownwood squares.

My question is - why would "we" want to repeal that tax?? It's paid by hotels and goes for entertainment. If it's repealed the money has to come from somewhere else. Or reduce/eliminate entertainment.

[Stu from NYC]

could it be the developer told his puppets to do so?

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

I might have said "occupancy" in my post but it is a County Tourist Development Tax. I believe it is a tax paid by hotels (not rentals).

That's incorrect it is paid by rentals, specifically rentals of 180 days or less.

[Northwoods]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

That's incorrect it is paid by rentals, specifically rentals of 180 days or less.

OK. Thanks. But my question isn't who pays the tax, my question is why would we want to eliminate it? If we repeal the tax, money for entertainment will have to come from somewhere else... or reduce/eliminate entertainment.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

OK. Thanks. But my question isn't who pays the tax, my question is why would we want to eliminate it? If we repeal the tax, money for entertainment will have to come from somewhere else... or reduce/eliminate entertainment.

It is interesting that the vast majority of Florida counties do not have the supplemental tourism tax. This is a small tax on a limited type of tax revenue.

Could it be that it is not a large amount for Sumter county? Most likely but I don't know this for a fact.

Edit to add:. Let's talk numbers. Let's say there are 2,000 rooms for rent in Sumter county at any given moment. Let's further speculate the daily rate per room in 120.00. let's use a occupancy rate of 50% . If so then the annual tourism tax collected is 438,000. While substantal it is small compared to the total county budget.

[Northwoods]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

It is interesting that the vast majority of Florida counties do not have the supplemental tourism tax. This is a small tax on a limited type of tax revenue.

Could it be that it is not a large amount for Sumter county? Most likely but I don't know this for a fact.

I know we're getting off subject, but I actually emailed someone at Sumter County, tonight, and he emailed me back!!!
Here is his answer:

Square entertainment is partially funded through:
Tourist Development Tax Revenues which are generated by overnight guests staying in Sumter County RV parks / campgrounds, hotels, motels and condominiums. As a rule, any short-term lodging of 6 months or less is subject to the 2% tax in additions to Sumter County's sales tax.

It is not funded by: Ordinance 2004-025 which authorizes a 2% tourist development tax for each dollar of the total consideration charged for lease or rental of properties as set forth in Section 125.0104(3), Florida Statutes.

[Kgcetm]

Given the recent rise in covid-19 cased in TV the Commission should perhaps cancel future meetings until after the first of the year in the interest of preserving the health of the commissioners and those who will want to attend their meetings.

[merrymini]

Yes, in the interest of health, we should not meet or go to work so people can starve to death. Good thinking.

[crash]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

I might have said "occupancy" in my post but it is a County Tourist Development Tax. I believe it is a tax paid by hotels (not rentals). A portion of that tax is used to fund entertainment at Sumter and Brownwood squares.

My question is - why would "we" want to repeal that tax?? It's paid by hotels and goes for entertainment. If it's repealed the money has to come from somewhere else. Or reduce/eliminate entertainment.

They don’t want to repeal the tax they just want to stop paying the $100000 to fund square entertainment. This is what the commissioners said would happen if they were not re-elected. Punishment for voting them out.

[J1ceasar]

The next board can easily re instate the tax or fund music thru general budgets . even the CCDS can fund it . it's about 25 cents a month per person . and by the way concider all the things the tourism taxes can do: lake county for years gives $50,000 -100,000 to bring the bass tournaments, and bike rallyes which actually do bring in more tax dollars and tourism . I doubt the music Sumter contributes to brings in anywhere near what Lakes events do .

[KRM0614]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

On Oct. 13, the Sumter County Commissioners are holding a public hearing to decide the future of the county tourist tax. I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) the tourist tax is an "occupancy tax" paid by Sumter hotels. The tax is used to help fund events that bring tourists to the county. Part of the tax helps fund entertainment at Sumter and Brownwood squares.
In the POA bulletin it says that commissioners have indicated they want to eliminate the tax.
What am I missing? Why would "we" want to repeal the tax? It doesn't cost taxpayers anything. That tax helps pay for square entertainment... so to continue to have nightly entertainment the money has to come from somewhere else. Sell tickets? Only have entertainment a few nights a week?
Can someone explain the benefit of repealinig that tax?

The hotel collects the tax from the people who stay there. As usual the residents pay for everything. The marketing for this place is misleading and in most respects not true.