Dissolve both Walton Chamber and TDC

[Miss Critter]

Maybe now is a good time to redefine what both entities do, and not to continue with the status quo. Economic conditions and local demographics have changed over the past few years, which should be the impetus for viewing things from a different perspective.

Belonging to the chamber because it's expected or because certain other businesses are in it is not enough. I'd like to see them do some local "marketing" as to what they've accomplished with member dollars, besides monthly social functions. What businesses have they attracted? How have they worked to improve the business climate locally?

And the bed tax is our lifeblood along the coast, so the TDC is vitally important so long as it functions to preserve and properly allocate those funds.

 

[tsutcli]

I have thought for a long time that the TDC has long outlived its function as a marketing tool to get the word out to the world about Sowal in genral and 30a in particular. This function has been ably filled by the major private corporations who have a stake in this area and tourism in general. A smaller TDC with targeted local functions having to do with local functions, especially on the beach would be justified. The money saved would be better used for beach patrol, lifeguards, law enforcement re: dogs in particular. We are past being discovered and need zero help in that regard.

 

[scooterbug44]

I think it would help if we had a list of all the things the TDC has done w/ the money - like within the last year.

I am sure there will be things on the list we definitely want to keep, things we can easily get rid of, and things we might be surprised by (both good and bad).

 

[Matt J]

Am I the only one following the logic that a smaller scaled back TDC would result in lower bed taxes and possibly more renters?

That's a good point or bad, take your pick.

 

[Cry Baby]

I think you all need to read FL statute 125.104....you obviously don't realize that funds cant be spent willy nilly! You complain about your taxes, and you want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Wake up!

Pay attention to the bed tax dollars coming into the county. You may all be retired and don't need to work anymore, but the majority of us do and depend on the TDC to help promote tourism which = more jobs.

The Chamber has no business running the TDC. Two different objectives! Maybe its time to take a look at who is running our county!!!! Is this the Obama Administration or what???? Shoving programs down our throats without proper public input! Everyone that voted for the Chamber to run the TDC should be replaced!!!

 

[GoodWitch58]

I think you all need to read FL statute 125.104....you obviously don't realize that funds cant be spent willy nilly! You complain about your taxes, and you want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Wake up!

Pay attention to the bed tax dollars coming into the county. You may all be retired and don't need to work anymore, but the majority of us do and depend on the TDC to help promote tourism which = more jobs.

The Chamber has no business running the TDC. Two different objectives! Maybe its time to take a look at who is running our county!!!! Is this the Obama Administration or what???? Shoving programs down our throats without proper public input! Everyone that voted for the Chamber to run the TDC should be replaced!!!

Interesting that you choose in your first post on this board to say to take shots at those of us on the board who have been having a dialogue on this for days.

I agree with you that the TDC should not be run by the Chamber of Commerce or its director; and I and most of us on this board are fully aware of how the bed tax works, most people who post here are not retired and even if they were, they are entitled to an opinion...and last time I looked every commissioner elected in Walton County for years has had an R behind their names...so, this has nothing to do with President Obama.

There appears to be a serious situation here but the problem is not someone on a message board who might have a different idea of how to spend money or generate jobs. As another poster has written, a lower bed tax might offer more quality of life to those of us who live and work here.

More is not always better.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Am I the only one following the logic that a smaller scaled back TDC would result in lower bed taxes and possibly more renters?

That's a good point or bad, take your pick.

Apparently so, but then you often are thinking ahead...

 

[Cry Baby]

Yes, and as you wrote, we all have an opinion, and that one is mine. I thought this was an open forum....didn't realize is was a private conversation going on here!

Interesting that you choose in your first post on this board to say to take shots at those of us on the board who have been having a dialogue on this for days.

I agree with you that the TDC should not be run by the Chamber of Commerce or its director; and I and most of us on this board are fully aware of how the bed tax works, most people who post here are not retired and even if they were, they are entitled to an opinion...and last time I looked every commissioner elected in Walton County for years has had an R behind their names...so, this has nothing to do with President Obama.

There appears to be a serious situation here but the problem is not someone on a message board who might have a different idea of how to spend money or generate jobs. As another poster has written, a lower bed tax might offer more quality of life to those of us who live and work here.

More is not always better.

 

[wrobert]

So how do you break up a good old boy network?


That is something all of us talk about but just how do you fix it. You go and elect, and elect, and elect, always looking for change and rarely does anything get better. You get lucky and you find one commissioner that is willing to stand up and do the right thing. Now they are in a reelection fight that is probably going to be tougher based on that vote. Not that it was the wrong vote, but the network will go and try to find someone else that may play ball.

 

[scooterbug44]

..and last time I looked every commissioner elected in Walton County for years has had an R behind their names...so, this has nothing to do with President Obama.

:rofl:

Goodwitch, have I told you recently just how much you rock?