[Normal]

Originally Posted by FastAndCurious

YA, let's shoot the golden goose that flies in here for a short time, pumps money into the economy, and uses very little resources while we give big property tax breaks to residents who use county resources 365 days a year.
That sounds logical. Why am I not surprised.

Why am I not surprised. Landlords don’t want to pay the tax while the majority would rather tourists pay for tourists. The landlords golden goose is fed while the rest of us get something more along the lines of an albatross.

[Maker]

It's a money grab. Hidden tax increase.

Current tax money gets spent on THINGS residents and tourists might like to do.
Government wants more money for "something else".
So shift out the money from the budget for those THINGS, and then put it up for a vote.
Pass or fail, that money got pulled out, and is now available for the "something else".

Watch how they build a case for how great a new tax would be. How things would be so much better. Blah blah blah
It's just another tax.
Same trick used in blue states to tax more and more.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Worth considering but need to think about what the money can be used for.

Florida Statute 125.0104 limits this revenue to tourism promotion and specific tourism-related purposes — marketing, and publicly or nonprofit-owned facilities such as museums, auditoriums and convention centers.

It cannot be moved into general county spending, road repair, law enforcement or fire services.

So basically the money collected could only be spent on encouraging more people to visit the county during tourist season. Yes, money spent on facilities (museums, possibly parks, etc) are things that we might use as well.

One of the arguments for ending it back in 2020 was criticism that the money was being used to fund the nightly entertainment in the squares which could be viewed as subsidizing the Developer's advertising.

Currently 62 of 67 counties in Florida charge a tourist tax ranging from 2% to6%,
Marion and Lake county requires it. Sumter does not.

Here's what Florida law states these funds which must be placed in a trust fund must be used for:

Primary Uses of TDT Revenue
• Tourism Promotion and Advertising: Funding local Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) or tourism marketing campaigns to attract visitors, vacationers, and business travelers from inside and outside the state.
• Publicly Owned Convention Centers and Facilities: Acquiring, constructing, operating, or maintaining public convention centers, exhibition halls, and meeting facilities.
• Sports Facilities and Stadium Debt Service: Funding the construction, repair, or debt payments for professional sports franchises, spring-training complexes, and sports arenas (e.g., local baseball or sports complex debt).
• Beach and Shoreline Maintenance: Financing beach improvement, erosion control, renourishment, cleanup, and public access restoration for coastal areas, lakes, and rivers.
• Cultural and Arts Programs: Supporting local festivals, fine arts programs, and historical or cultural activities that draw tourists to the region.

The visitor pays the tax.

Interestingly, AirBnb collects and pay the state sales tax but does not pay the tourist tax it collects and remits to the Landlord. My client got misinformed about this and was shocked when Palm Beach County billed him $4,000 for unremitted tourist tax!.

[Nell57]

Every hotel I stay at in Florida has a tourism tax. Last year it was Orlando, Naples and Ft. Lauderdale.
I’m voting YES….its a tax you usually pay when you travel. Sumter County might as well benefit from it too.

[DrMack]

I was surprised to see there wasn’t already a tourism tax. It seems we pay it everywhere else. This needs to be done.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by DrMack

I was surprised to see there wasn’t already a tourism tax. It seems we pay it everywhere else. This needs to be done.

See post #2.

The tax existed in Sumter until was ended in 2020. There was some talk of reinstating it in 2023 but the BoCC chose not to do so.

Five Florida counties did not collect tourism tax in 2025.

[tophcfa]

I’m totally in favor of a 100% tax on short term rentals of less than 30 days for AIRBnB’s, or other rentals, being run out of residential homes.

[DrMack]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

See post #2.

The tax existed in Sumter until was ended in 2020. There was some talk of reinstating it in 2023 but the BoCC chose not to do so.

Five Florida counties did not collect tourism tax in 2025.

COVID is over. Tourism can go back to the way it was. Travel and social gatherings aren’t high risk anymore. I would be in favor of the extra revenue.

[Taltarzac725]

My mail- in ballot went in the mail today. Sure hope it only needs one stamp. Just one page should qualify for just one stamp.

It looks like they will still count it even if the letter does not have enough postage on it.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by DrMack

COVID is over. Tourism can go back to the way it was. Travel and social gatherings aren’t high risk anymore. I would be in favor of the extra revenue.

I can’t find any reporting that mentions COVID as a reason the tax was repealed.

2% is not likely to change anyone’s travel plans so it probably will not hurt tourism.

The money collected from this tax cannot be put into the general fund so it is unlikely to affect resident’s tax obligations at all.

My concern is that the money may be used wisely and effectively. The purpose of the tax is to fund programs to promote tourism. If done well, the number of tourists will increase. The number of short term rentals will increase. The number of people in the squares will increase. The number of people filling restaurants will increase. The number of people in line in front of me in Publix will increase. Good for business but not particularly good for me.

[Flyers999]

If we are going to have music at the squares 365 nights a year, then let's have quality music.

Vote yes.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by Normal

AI involvement with the books should increase enforcement while decreasing additional revenue needs. New software actually scans AirBnb/**** openings, owners and applicable taxes for the IRS. Enforcement could eventually bring more revenue anyway?

What applicable taxes for the IRS?