Tourist tax proposal revamped in Senate

(AP photo by J. Pat Carter)

A Senate panel Monday approved a controversial proposal that would allow tourist-development taxes to be used for such things as transportation and sewer projects --- but made changes that significantly narrowed it.

Groups such as the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association have fought the proposal (SB 658), arguing it could lead to diverting tourist-development taxes from being used for advertising and marketing.

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Supporters, however, contend that infrastructure such as roads can help boost tourism.

The Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee on Monday unanimously approved the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, after making changes.

Under the changes, money could only be used for infrastructure projects in counties where at least $20 million in tourist-development tax money was received in the previous year.

Such uses also would require two-thirds votes by county commissions, and tourist-development taxes could cover no more than 70 percent of the costs of the infrastructure projects.

Additionally, an independent analysis would have to show that an infrastructure project would have a positive impact on tourist-related businesses.