Okaloosa County BOCC — December 15, 2015 — Proposed TDT Bill for Okaloosa County

RESOLUTION 15-____ A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY FLORIDA IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN OKALOOSA COUNTY, AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. WHEREAS, a bill proposed by the Florida House of Representatives Finance & Tax Committee would mandate that 20 percent of all tourist development taxes paid throughout the state and currently collected by Okaloosa County for tourism related purposes be automatically sent to Tallahassee and earmarked to support Enterprise Florida, Inc.; and WHEREAS, under the proposed bill, Okaloosa County would lose roughly $2.3 million of local tourist development tax revenues, which would have a negative impact on the tourism industry in Okaloosa County; and WHEREAS, the proposed bill would remove local control of the membership of the Tourist Development Council by allowing the appointment of six members by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, an unelected, non-local private entity; and WHEREAS, while the proposed bill expressly authorizes the use of tourist development tax funding for law enforcement purposes, it requires that the county pay an additional 50 percent payment to the state for every dollar spent on law enforcement. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY AS FOLLOWS: 1. The Commission objects to any redirection of tourist development taxes collected in Okaloosa County to the state for any purpose.  2. The Commission objects to any expansion of the use of the tourist development tax beyond what is currently allowed by state law. 3. The Commission objects to any revision in the method of the appointment of Tourist Development Council members. 4. This Resolution shall be effective upon adoption. DULY PASSED AND APPROVED, by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, on this 15th day of December, 2015. ________________________________ Nathan D. Boyles, Chairman ATTEST: _____________________________ J.D. Peacock, Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Gregory T. Stewart, County Attorney