2015-141 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

RESOLUTION NO. 2015-141 A RESOLUTION OF THE . BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ; INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO OPPOSE AND THE GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT TO OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD MANDATE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX FUNDS BE DIVERTED AWAY FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES; AND DIRECTING CERTIFIED COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION TO BE PROVIDED TO VARIOUS OFFICIALS. WHEREAS, in 1977, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Tourist Development Tax authorizing counties to levy an optional tax on over -night accommodation transactions of which 60 of the 67 counties currently impose; and WHEREAS, certain members of the Florida Legislature are considering legislation which would mandate that twenty (20) percent of all locally collected tourist development tax funds be automatically transmitted to Tallahassee to support Visit Florida, a not-for-profit corporation created as a public/private partnership in 1996 that is not subject to the Sunshine Laws of the State of Florida; and WHEREAS, certain members of the Florida Legislature are considering legislation which would allow a local government to redirect up to ten (10) percent of all locally collected tourist development tax funds to be used to fund local law enforcement costs related to tourism, but only if the local government commits to redirect an additional $.50 on the dollar to support Visit Florida; and WHEREAS, certain members of the Florida Legislature are considering legislation which would remove local control over the membership of a Tourist Development Council by allowing the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to appointment six members to every local Tourist Development Council; and WHEREAS, legislation which would prevent local governments from seeking remittance of the full tourist development taxes to promote local tourism will adversely affect bond obligations across the State of Florida that are tied to tourist development tax revenues; and WHEREAS, legislation which either requires local tourist development tax funds to be redirected away from the promotion of local tourism, or takes away a local governing body's right to appoint members to its local Tourist Development Council, will have a negative impact on the tourism industry within Indian River County as well as the Treasure Coast as a whole; and WHEREAS, any legislation which mandates a portion of Indian River County's tourist development tax funds be taken out of the control of the law-abiding Indian River County Tourist Development Council and used to support Visit Florida is an infringement on Indian River County's home rule authority, Page 1 of 2