July Bed Tax numbers

Beach Fanatic

Sep 13, '18 · 9:22 AM1,951

July Bed Tax numbers were up 4% over 2017. The approximate TDT (Tourist Development Tax) collection for July was $5,337,266, which is an increase of $208,109 over the previous year. Year-to-date collections are currently at approximately $21,000,051, an increase of 8.49% from the same time in 2017.

The Tourist Development tax, or bed tax, is a four percent tax collected on hotels, condos and other short-term rentals. It is the best way to gauge visitation and demand trends in South Walton. The revenue supports tourism marketing and beach operations including cleaning and maintaining beaches, lifeguards, destination improvements and preservation initiatives.

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what would you do with $21+ million?

Replies

SoWal Insider

Sep 13, '18 · 9:54 AM#2

Money, money, money, money... images of The Donald entering his private jet...

Oops, sorry, lost my train of thought...

Is there any way to find out the estimate of the number of PEOPLE that inhabit these beaches during the summer. I was wondering if they are all going to fit on the "3 miles" of free public beach left...

Edited Sep 13, '18 · 11:09 AM

Beach Fanatic

Sep 13, '18 · 10:06 AM#3

what would you do with $21+ million?

Invest it in acquiring additional public beachfront width and parking instead of expanding into additional geographic TV ad markets. Quit trying to make the Beaches of South Walton “a destination;” they already are a destination!

Beach Fanatic

Sep 13, '18 · 3:21 PM#4

Gotta change the Ordinance(s) that prescribe how much goes where. Maybe take the "penny" dedicated to beach renourishment and put it toward purchasing beachfront. Just a thought.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 13, '18 · 9:05 PM#5

July Bed Tax numbers were up 4% over 2017. The Tourist Development tax, or bed tax, is a four percent tax collected on hotels, condos and other short-term rentals. It is the best way to gauge visitation and demand trends in South Walton.

Geez, I thought without customary use Walton county economy would implode into a great depression. Another fake fact from customary users.
All FL coastal counties but two do not have customary use and their economies are growing like Walton's too.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 14, '18 · 6:42 AM#6

We have not seen the impact of CU in Walton County since most rentals are booked up to a year in advance.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 14, '18 · 7:01 AM#7

Geez, I thought without customary use Walton county economy would implode into a great depression. Another fake fact from customary users.
All FL coastal counties but two do not have customary use and their economies are growing like Walton's too.

I'm not so sure. CU reached fever pitch this summer and rental reservations are made well in advance. The larger resort commuities wont feel it as much.

Your neighbors just to the north (across the street) on the other hand... time will tell.

They need to make their guest aware of property rights and property boundries on beaches when booking reservations. Maybe a mandate is in order for everyones protection.

I guess we all should consider ourselves lucky that 50% of the public beach is "available". According to ECAR this is paradise.

Don't worry. You should be fine. Maybe better! I would think that the premiums for a beach front house has gone up considerably. According to ECAR nows the time to sell! or is it buy?? Sorry, I have a hard time keeping up with what time it is.

Oh and a reminder to bfo's, pick up the trash in your yard. We aren't doing that for you any more.