Friends:
Inan attempt to continue the ½ % bed sale tax levied by the Board of CountyCommissioners to support Southwest Airlines and the airport at Panama CityBeach, TDC Director Jim Bagby has a resolution on the BCC agenda for tomorrowto put the question to a voter referendum. When this 5 year bed tax wasimplemented the Board of County Commissioners made a blood oath promise thistax would sunset in 5 years. The sunset is coming up in a few months.
Soto shift responsibility Bagby is attempting an end run around the BCC promisewith the hope the referendum will be approved and the voters will approve soneither the TDC nor the BCC can be blamed for an added tax that will neverend. For the past several months this tax has not been paid to Southwestsince they reneged on the original agreement, and the money has gone directlyto the TDC. The TDC has now become accustomed to this little bit extra andwants to keep it. This is nothing more than pure greed, in my humbleopinion of course! There is always more that can be done with moreand more money. But in this case enough is enough!
Currentlythe TDC takes in about $18 to $20 million a year with the bed tax rate of4.5%. The ½% represents about $2 million. When the sunset occurs the ratewill be 4% which is paid primarily by tourist through bed tax collectors insouth Walton. If the ½ % should continue not one scintilla would bespent north of the bay. So a question is would this be a county-wide referendum?
Proponentsespouse that neighboring counties charge a higher rate than Walton andsome counties in the southern part of Florida are higher. Also, touristwould pay the tax and not the residents of Walton County. None of this isjustification for a what would be essentially a new continuing tax as long asMethuselah lived. I think the Bible says he lived 969 years!!!! You getmy drift?
Iam sick and tired of government taxing just because it can, and I am sick andtired of government conjuring up schemes to levy more taxes, no matter whopays these taxes, and it’s time to say enough is enough. The TDC isstepping into unstable waters and the BCC is being asked to back them up. TheBCC should hold to their promise that this additional bed tax will sunset,period, and the referendum request by Jim Bagby should be denied.
Incidentally,this reminds me of the 331 bridge referendum. Will the BCC side-step theirresponsibility once again….I hope not!
J.B. Hillard
DeFuniakSprings, FL
PS. The proposed referendum drafted by the TDC is not attached to the BCC agenda sothe public has no idea what the details may be. All I know is they want to keepthe ½%.
Inan attempt to continue the ½ % bed sale tax levied by the Board of CountyCommissioners to support Southwest Airlines and the airport at Panama CityBeach, TDC Director Jim Bagby has a resolution on the BCC agenda for tomorrowto put the question to a voter referendum. When this 5 year bed tax wasimplemented the Board of County Commissioners made a blood oath promise thistax would sunset in 5 years. The sunset is coming up in a few months.
Soto shift responsibility Bagby is attempting an end run around the BCC promisewith the hope the referendum will be approved and the voters will approve soneither the TDC nor the BCC can be blamed for an added tax that will neverend. For the past several months this tax has not been paid to Southwestsince they reneged on the original agreement, and the money has gone directlyto the TDC. The TDC has now become accustomed to this little bit extra andwants to keep it. This is nothing more than pure greed, in my humbleopinion of course! There is always more that can be done with moreand more money. But in this case enough is enough!
Currentlythe TDC takes in about $18 to $20 million a year with the bed tax rate of4.5%. The ½% represents about $2 million. When the sunset occurs the ratewill be 4% which is paid primarily by tourist through bed tax collectors insouth Walton. If the ½ % should continue not one scintilla would bespent north of the bay. So a question is would this be a county-wide referendum?
Proponentsespouse that neighboring counties charge a higher rate than Walton andsome counties in the southern part of Florida are higher. Also, touristwould pay the tax and not the residents of Walton County. None of this isjustification for a what would be essentially a new continuing tax as long asMethuselah lived. I think the Bible says he lived 969 years!!!! You getmy drift?
Iam sick and tired of government taxing just because it can, and I am sick andtired of government conjuring up schemes to levy more taxes, no matter whopays these taxes, and it’s time to say enough is enough. The TDC isstepping into unstable waters and the BCC is being asked to back them up. TheBCC should hold to their promise that this additional bed tax will sunset,period, and the referendum request by Jim Bagby should be denied.
Incidentally,this reminds me of the 331 bridge referendum. Will the BCC side-step theirresponsibility once again….I hope not!
J.B. Hillard
DeFuniakSprings, FL
PS. The proposed referendum drafted by the TDC is not attached to the BCC agenda sothe public has no idea what the details may be. All I know is they want to keepthe ½%.