Subject:
Title
Tourist Development Tax Proceeds
End
Fiscal Impact:
Unknown
Dept/Office:
District 2
Requested Action:
Recommendation
Requested Action: Motion to Direct Staff and the Tourist Development Council to Consider Use of Increased TDT Funds over the currently anticipated 16.6 M for improvements to County- owned roadways and bridges benefitting tourism in Brevard County or projects benefitting or restoring the Indian River Lagoon, including utility expansions or improvements. End
Summary Explanation and Background:
The tourist development tax (hereinafter "TDT") has seen immense increases over the past several years. The actual fiscal year 2015 - 2016 TDT budget was $12.8M. 2016 - 2017 saw a rise to $12.6M. 2017 - 2018 tallied at $15.6M. 2018 - 2019 totaled $16.0M. The Office of Tourism, perhaps conservatively, forecasts a 2019 - 2020 TDT budget of $16.6M.
Brevard County presently authorizes up to $1M, of the TDT funds, to go toward Indian River Lagoon (hereinafter "IRL") cleanup efforts on an annual basis. Given the rise in the TDT, it may be worth revisiting whether this stagnant amount is too low.
Partly to that end, given the sharp and continuing increase of TDT funds, I am concerned that these funds continue to be used in a manner which benefits not only the tourism industry but also the vast majority of all residents, including those residents who do not see a value in the many worthwhile projects facilitated by TDT allocation and associated grants.
As presently enacted, section 125.0104 (5)(a), Florida Statutes, explicitly permits TDT funds to be used for the purpose of financing "... estuary, or lagoon improvement... [and] restoration." However, the county ordinance restricts the amount of expenditures on the estuary or lagoon restoration projects.
TDT funds may also lawfully be used to "... acquire, construct, extend, enlarge, remodel, repair, improve, maintain, operate, or finance public facilities within the boundaries of the county...
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