Florida’s hotels and restaurants are fighting legislation that would raise the bed tax from four to five cents and use the money to help Floridians buy homes.
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association isn’t against the increase, it just wants the money to be used to promote tourism. Right now the counties use the money they collect to attract visitors. The association’s president Carol Dover says if the state doesn’t pump the money into tourism, the budget deficit will widen.
“If we don’t get the tourist in the state, think about how many sales tax dollars we’re losing on top of the bed tax revenue. What about sales tax and all the other sales tax collections that we’re missing,” said Dover.
An estimated 85 million people visit Florida every year, although tourism has been on the decline over the past 12 months.
Source: flanews.com
