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Board of Commissioners
<br />Page 2 of 2
<br />January 21, 2021
<br />Indian River County Code 210.03(a) specifies the authorized uses of Tourist Tax revenue. These
<br />uses include:
<br />(1) To acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, maintain, operate or
<br />promote .one or more publicly owned and operated convention center, sport stadium,
<br />sports arena, coliseum or auditorium within the boundaries of the county or subcounty
<br />special taxing distinct. However, these purposes may be implemented through services,
<br />contracts and leases with persons who maintain and operate adequate existing facilities;
<br />(2) To promote and advertise tourism in the State of Florida and nationally and
<br />internationally; however, if tax revenues are expended for an activity, service, venue, or
<br />event, the activity, service, venue, or event must have as one of its main purposes the
<br />attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the activity, service, venue, or
<br />event to tourists;
<br />(3) To fund convention bureaus, tourist bureau, tourist information centers and news
<br />bureaus as county agencies or by contract with the chambers of commerce or similar
<br />associations in the county;
<br />(4) To finance beach improvement, maintenance, renourishment restoration and erosion
<br />control, including shoreline protection, enhancement, cleanup, restoration of inland lakes
<br />and rivers to which there is public access;
<br />(5) Until such time as Indian River County reaches a population of five hundred thousand
<br />(500,000) based on the most recent population estimated prepared pursuant to the
<br />provisions of F.S. § 186.901, as in effect on July 1st of each year, tax revenues received
<br />pursuant to this article may also be used to acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel,
<br />repair, improve, maintain, operate or promote one or more museums, zoological parks,
<br />fishing piers or nature centers which are publicly owned and operated or owned by not-
<br />for-profit organizations are open to the public.
<br />(6) Pay the debt service on bonds issued to finance the construction, reconstruction, or
<br />renovation of a professional sports franchise facility, or the acquisition, construction,
<br />reconstruction, or renovation of a retained spring training franchise facility, either
<br />publicly owned and operated, or publicly owned and operated by the owner of a
<br />professional sports franchise or other lessee with sufficient expertise or financial
<br />capability to operate such facility, and to pay the planning and design costs incurred prior
<br />to the issuance of such bonds.
<br />Please note that pursuant to Indian River County Code 210.03(b), "[u]p to fifty (50) percent of
<br />the revenues to be derived from the tourist development tax levied pursuant to sections 210.01(b)
<br />and (c) of this chapter shall be pledged to secure and liquidate revenue bonds issued by the
<br />county for the purposes set forth in section (a)(4) of this section. Up to one-half ('/Z) of the
<br />remaining revenue derived from the tourist development tax levied pursuant to sections
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