Pix: How The Bed Tax Money Should Be Spent
BY BUDDY NEVINS
While the Florida Panthers fight for millions of dollars more in tourist development dollars, it is good to remember where that money is supposed to be spent.
Not on beach renourishment or on hockey teams.
On tourist development!
On bring tourists to Broward County to fill our hotels, restaurants and attractions. That’s why the bed tax was created.
Like this billboard in Times Square, photographed yesterday by a friend and e-mailed to me. I guess the Panthers would have us believe that including hockey in that ad would bring even more tourists.
No way (click to enlarge):
March 24th, 2014 at 10:19 am
Dear Mr. Nevins
in more than one major tourist destination here in Florida 65% of general city expenses by careful or clever use of bed taxes. Broward I am told by government officials is only one of two Florida counties that is so structured not to prevent this but to give sole control to a county commission n its county manager. Ft. Lauderdale n Deerfield beach both had to cut or limit lifeguards or salaries or benefits because of finances while other resorts outside the county increased all three thru their resort taxes.
March 24th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Buddy, please ask clcc to translate above comment. I’m lost.
March 24th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
Does every town in the US hold the tax money hostage for hockey arena “Improvements” and “Upgrades”?
If the teams are all threatening to leave when their extortion demands are not met, where they going?
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/03/20/v-print/4781100/bobcats-arena-update-millions.html
March 25th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
The team owner believes that the best indicator of future performance is past performance. The purchase of the team was done with the presumption that this county commission will perform similar to past county commissions. Isn’t it about time for this most recent commission to break that cycle? I mean seriously folks. 8 million in bed tax money that is earmarked for tourist development should not be going to a hockey team who has an owner that has secured the management contract for that building and is making millions that should be going to the county. The only way the idea should even be considered is if the Panthers agree to give back the management contract for the arena in exchange for the 8 million, and everyone and their mom knows that ain’t happening. The Panthers have been screwing the county since the 90’s. Time for our elected leaders to start screwing back.
March 25th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
It’s actually 80 million, not 8.