WCTA seeks expanded use of bedtax funds

[Bob Hudson]

Commissioners:

On behalf of the WCTA, I'd appreciate your having Walton County either join Okaloosa or work independently in seeking favorable consideration of using TDC funds for funding beach patrols, lifeguards, increased Sheriff's presence on and near the beach during Spring Break, holiday weekends, and the summer busy season, infrastructure improvements necessary because of the tourist influx, emergency services funding, and such other activities on the part of the county which are necessary in dealing with the blessings/problems of the tourism impact in South Walton.

Bed tax funds are the logical source for meeting these needs engendered by the increased demand load from tourists. It is in our view unreasonable and unfair to expect private homeowners to fund this industry in the main with residential ad valorem taxes. Those ad valorem taxes should accrue to the benefit of residential taxpayers to a much greater extent than to tourists.

Through this past weekend, it appears that the increased Sheriff's presence and more vigorous enforcement activities on and near the beach have had a favorable impact on minimizing criminal activities and their associated unpleasantness for the residents of South Walton. My conversations with the Sheriff suggest strongly that his budget both needs and deserves additional resources to deal with the problems generated by tourists.

Given that tourism is increasingly a year-round reality in South Walton, that aid can legitimately be sourced at least in part, preferably greater part, from bed taxes if you as a body declare it to be a legitimate use. Prudence would suggest that clearing this with the State Attorney's Office as PCB has done would be wise, and emulating Okaloosa's example in seeking legislative relief would also be a desirable move.

Thank you for your time and effort on this matter.

Don Riley
President
Walton County Taxpayers Association

 

[Dawn]

Commissioners:

On behalf of the WCTA, I'd appreciate your having Walton County either join Okaloosa or work independently in seeking favorable consideration of using TDC funds for funding beach patrols, lifeguards, increased Sheriff's presence on and near the beach during Spring Break, holiday weekends, and the summer busy season, infrastructure improvements necessary because of the tourist influx, emergency services funding, and such other activities on the part of the county which are necessary in dealing with the blessings/problems of the tourism impact in South Walton.

Bed tax funds are the logical source for meeting these needs engendered by the increased demand load from tourists. It is in our view unreasonable and unfair to expect private homeowners to fund this industry in the main with residential ad valorem taxes. Those ad valorem taxes should accrue to the benefit of residential taxpayers to a much greater extent than to tourists.

Through this past weekend, it appears that the increased Sheriff's presence and more vigorous enforcement activities on and near the beach have had a favorable impact on minimizing criminal activities and their associated unpleasantness for the residents of South Walton. My conversations with the Sheriff suggest strongly that his budget both needs and deserves additional resources to deal with the problems generated by tourists.

Given that tourism is increasingly a year-round reality in South Walton, that aid can legitimately be sourced at least in part, preferably greater part, from bed taxes if you as a body declare it to be a legitimate use. Prudence would suggest that clearing this with the State Attorney's Office as PCB has done would be wise, and emulating Okaloosa's example in seeking legislative relief would also be a desirable move.

Thank you for your time and effort on this matter.

Don Riley
President
Walton County Taxpayers Association

Bob, Don, et al,

I support a balanced approach to use of Bed Tax dollars, with some being used for infrastructure. Making the local environment better for tourists and locals. Protecting our natural resources and enhancing the visitor experience. We can advertise a bit less and make our area better.

However I wouldn't support a money grab by the Sheriiff. We have some kids who come here on spring break and drink too much, disturb the peace, and maybe harm a little private property. It's not like it's a crime spree. And it's only a few weeks a year. We are not turning into Panama City Beach so let's not overreact.

We don't want parents dumping their kids on us to go wild, but neither do we want to feed in to that by becoming baby sitters. A better strategy would be to discourage underage drinking and renting to people under 25. I know some adults rent a place and turn it over to the kids. The way to stop that is to send quite a few of them home in a high profile way to let the south know we don't put up with it. When it becomes known that there is a good chance of losing several thousand dollars for a week's rent then they will go somewhere else.

Miramar Beach seems to be the problem - maybe owners there should pay more tax for law enforcement if they want to rent to kids?

And please don't pretend that residents shouldn't help foot the bill to support an industry which supports most of them. We enjoy incredible benefits from tourism, both directly and indirectly. To position yourself otherwise is hypocritical and divisive.

As for emergency response - yes - if we are going to invite more people here we should be prepared to take care of them.

 

[Zebraspots]

I don't think using bedtax money to fund the increased need for services and infrastructure during peak times is a money grab.

Statistics show that the Sheriff and fire department calls go up exponentially during spring break and summer and that the majority of those calls are for out of state visitors.