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w <br />J. <br />CLARIFY THAT ONE PARTICULAR SEGMENT <br />MR. NORTON SUBMITTED NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED <br />IN WORKING ON A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX BOARD, AND NOTED THAT THE <br />CHAIRMAN MUST BE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSSIONERS. <br />THE BOARD MUST BE SET UP SIXTY DAYS PRIOR TO THIS MATTER BEING PLACED <br />ON THE BALLOT, AND THEY ARE, THEREFORE, REQUESTING THAT THE COMMIS- <br />SIONERS CONSIDER THIS MATTER AND APPOINT THE.BOARD AS QUICKLY AS <br />POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN'GET THE GROUNDWORK GOING. HE STATED THAT THE <br />CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOULD DEAL WITH ANY EXPENSES RELATING TO SUCH <br />A BOARD, MR. NORTON THEN DISCUSSED CITIES THAT CURRENTLY USE THIS <br />TAX, AND NOTED THAT TOURISM IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR GREW LESS THAN <br />THE LOWEST IN ITS HISTORY. HE CONTINUED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED NO <br />OBJECTIONS FROM ANY OF THE GROUPS THEY HAVE MET WITH, AND FURTHER <br />NOTED THAT THERE IS A GROWING INTEREST IN ALLOCATING SOME OF THESE <br />FUNDS TO BEACH RESTORATION, PARKS, ROADS, ETC. <br />CHAIRMAN WODTKE ASKED IF ANYONE PRESENT WISHED TO BE HEARD. <br />FRANK HOWARD OF HOLIDAY INN STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN CLOSELY <br />INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN REGARD TO THE PROMOTION OF <br />TOURISM, AND HE FELT THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS <br />VEHICLE TO BENEFIT BOTH THE COUNTY'S ECONOMY AND RESIDENTS. MR. <br />HOWARD NOTED THAT IF THECOUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THESE FUNDS, <br />WE WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE MARKETPLACE TO A GREAT EXTENT BY NOT <br />BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE WITH THE COUNTIES WHO DO ADOPT THIS TAX, <br />DONNA KELLER SPOKE REPRESENTING HOWARD JOHNSON, OCEANSIDE <br />AND CONCURRED WITH MR. HOWARD'S STATEMENTS, SHE NOTED THAT THEY HAVE <br />THE ROOMS TO HANDLE CONVENTIONS AND COULD DO SO MUCH MORE IF THEY <br />HAD THE TAX MONEY TO WORK WITH. <br />CATHERINE ARMSTRONG, PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF THE RIVERSIDE <br />THEATRE, FELT THAT SUCH A TAX WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY, <br />SHE NOTED THAT OUR THEATRE IS QUITE UNIQUE AND CAN BE A GREAT DRAW- <br />ING CARD FOR TOURISTS, BUT A GREAT DEAL MUST BE SPENT TO ATTRACT THEM. <br />MRS. ARMSTRONG WAS STRONGLY IN FAVOR.OF SUPPORTING SUCH A TAX, <br />WILLIAM KOOLAGE FELT THE CONTRARY VIEW SHOULD BE CONSIDERED <br />ALSO, HE POINTED OUT THAT WE ARE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO <br />GET INTO THE NEW HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING IN THE OLD ONE, <br />19 <br />l� 140 <br />