Tourism and Grants Coordinator Tisha Whitehurst requests a 2 cent increase in the bed tax to promote tourism in Levy County.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Levy County’s 17-year-old tourism promotion tax was doubled Tuesday by Levy County Commissioners.
The board voted unanimously to raise the 2 cent bed tax, as it is sometimes called, to 4 cents on every dollar for rented motel and hotel rooms, condominiums, bed and breakfasts and RV lots.
The tax is officially called the tourism development tax, but many people in the business of renting accommodations refer to it as a bed tax.
County Tourism and Grants Coordinator Tisha Whitehurst said the Levy County Tourism Development Council recommended doubling the tax to provide more tourism promotion opportunities.
The tax currently generates about $232,000 annually. The figure should double with the additional tax on tourism rentals.
Most of the tax money is used to promote events in Levy County such as festivals that attract tourists. The county doesn’t have enough money in the tourism budget to advertise nationally.
Commissioner Mike Joyner asked Whitehurst to make it clear the tax wasn’t levied against Levy County residents.
Whitehurst agreed it was a tax levied on tourists.
“This is not a tax on the residents. This does not tax the accommodations people. They do not pay the tax. The tax is directly, directly (paid by) the person renting the room,” Whitehurst said.
The bed tax ordinance requires business owners to collect the tax or the county will place a lien on their property.
She said there are event sponsors in Levy County that are asking for more tourism promotion dollars.
Commission Chairman John Meeks said he could talk forever about why he views the bed tax as a good promotional tax for tourism.
County Commission Chairman John Meeks said he likes the bed tax because tourists pay it, have a good time, and they leave their money behind.
“It is the best kind because people come, they hang around a little while and they leave,” Meeks said. “While they’re here we collect a little bit off them. They leave behind their money. They’re not creating problems and getting involved with the EMS and law enforcement and complaints about the roads. They come to have a good time. Everybody on vacation is always happy. They shell out money left and right. They don’t care. They’re happy. Those are the people we want to encourage to come here (inaudible). I think it’s a good thing.”
Whitehurst said the 2 cent bed tax was adopted in 2002. The county was required to wait three years before it was eligible to apply for the third and fourth cent tax. She said the county isn’t eligible for the fifth cent, but it could levy the sixth cent bed tax. It has chosen not to do so.
Dixie County levies a 3 cent bed tax, Gilchrist County 2 cents (although the county is talking about adding 2 cents); Citrus County levies 5 cents and Marion County 4 cents.
Whitehurst said the tourism council in Levy County would like to focus on tourists who come here to enjoy the outdoors.
“We would like to advertise in publications that speak more toward the people that visit here; which are the outdoor enthusiasts,” she said.
She said the bed tax currently can only be used to promote tourism but she said the Florida Legislature “is possibly trying to change that.”
Board of County Commission Regular Meeting October 22, 2019; Posted October 22, 2019
