[defrey12]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

True. They should find a way to make this tax retroactive as well (to correct the error of not charging it all along).

That's a good one! 😂

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by Rocksnap

How about an outright ban on short term AirBnb rentals. They only drag our beautiful neighborhoods down.

So capitalism and personal property rights are values that should just be done away with, correct?

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by RoboVil

A tourist tax is designed to bring in more tourists so there will be more short-term rentals if the tax goes through. That assumes the money will be used effectively. If you want more tourists, and along with that, more short-term rentals, then vote yes. If you don't want more tourists and don't want more short-term rentals, then vote no.

WHAT? Sorry, but your logic is totally backwards. This is NOT going to be used to promote tourism; it's going to be used to offset $$$ lost from property taxes. Don't kid yourself. This tax is meant to make it more expensive and thus DETER more tourists. Have you ever gone to a place and said, "GREAT! They just raised the cost for me stay here!"

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Being proactive in trying to replace lost revenue in case the homestead tax exemption bill passes. Just wondering exactly how far the tourists can be pushed before they start finding other places to visit?

There is no other place on earth like Florida...tourists are never going to stop coming here. If you got Disney and Universal to shut their doors, you might make a dent in the tourist $$$.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by BuyckCabin

Would they be wrong?

Nope. 👎

[Catvillage]

Originally Posted by buyckcabin

any tax increase is a bad tax increase.

amen

[DAVES]

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

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.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by defrey12

So capitalism and personal property rights are values that should just be done away with, correct?

So, all zoning laws should be abolished? After all, don't I have the "personal property rights" to open a capitalistic gas station or tattoo parlor in the middle of a residential 55+ neighborhood? What about the personal property rights of the neighbors???

Despite various ridiculous rulings to the contrary, Airbnbs owned by investors and other short term rentals ARE A BUSINESS and they do not belong in a residential neighborhood. Those owners need to practice their capitalism and exercise their property rights ELSEWHERE.

[REO7990]

If the general consensus here is to have tourists pay the lost revenue if/when amendment 3 passes, when will enough be enough in tourists minds and they skip going to Florida entirely? This was only part of my reasoning for a NO vote on Amendment 3.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by REO7990

If the general consensus here is to have tourists pay the lost revenue if/when amendment 3 passes, when will enough be enough in tourists minds and they skip going to Florida entirely? This was only part of my reasoning for a NO vote on Amendment 3.

The Sumter County tourist tax would need to be much more than 2% to make up for all the revenue lost under amendment 3.

The tourist tax *could* replace some (all?) of the tourist-focused funding that comes from the general fund today. This would help with the lost revenue, even if only in a very small way.

If this passes it will be interesting to see if there is a push to collect the additional tourist-based taxes (there are several) in the future.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by REO7990

If the general consensus here is to have tourists pay the lost revenue if/when amendment 3 passes, when will enough be enough in tourists minds and they skip going to Florida entirely? This was only part of my reasoning for a NO vote on Amendment 3.

"Skip" Florida and go where? Disneyworld Pyongyang??? Universal Kabul??? The proposal for Sumter Co. is a 2% tourist tax----the areas with the big attractions are already more than triple that---the tax is hardly a deterrent.

[Birdrm]

Just for reference both Lake and Marion counties have a 4% tourist tax, so the proposed 2% for Sumter is not out of line with other counties. Now the other issue is that Sumter is also adding about 3000 new homes to the tax base each year so maybe this new tax is not needed?

[G.R.I.T.S.]

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

…until people stop visiting then what? If you haven’t booked a hotel in Orlando or on the beach, you cannot know how much resort fees and taxes have increased in those areas. It may work out for a place like Sumter County for a while. One doesn’t know until the goose is dead, then it’s difficult to recover.

[mvbird]

Originally Posted by BuyckCabin

Any tax increase is a bad tax increase.

I have heard this story so many times. A new tax that will benefit the environment, schools, the elderly, special needs, infrastructure, kid's playgrounds, etc. etc. Somehow the money disappears in administrative costs, hiring an inspector, or someone else's pocket. We are taxed on so much already, often taxed twice over, please do not believe these virtuous appeals to tax us or anyone else even more.