One topic of recurring interest to Historic City News readers is the disposition of some $5 million annually collected by landlords and hoteliers in St Johns County in the form of a 4% tourism development tax collected on lodging and short-term property rentals.
St. Johns County ordinance 2013-10, the Tourist Development Plan, outlines four specific use categories consistent with the Florida Statutes that the County will follow in utilizing the tax proceeds to further tourism development.
The categories are:
- Destination Marketing
- Arts, Culture & Heritage
- Leisure & Recreation
- Admin & Special Uses
The following men and women comprise the current Tourism Development Council (TDC) according to a breakdown established by the Act — the mayor or elected official from St Augustine, and St Augustine Beach and a member of the county commission, three owners who collect the tax, and three representatives who do not.
Everything done by the TDC Board, must be ratified by the County Commission, who is free to make changes to their recommendations.
By far the most controversial of the $5 million taken in, is the $500,000-$600,000 paid out based on recommendations made by another appointed panel — the Arts, Cultural and Heritage grant funding panel; part of the overall Arts, Culture & Heritage Category included in the Tourist Development Plan.
The half-million dollar windfall to local 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organizations who are eligible to apply, never seems to cover the demand. This year, for $560,000 in funds, forty requests totaling $956,950 were received.
| COSA ‐ Tapestry | 80,000 | 90.8% | 54,379 |
| Romanza ‐ 4th Annual Festivale | 80,000 | 83.4% | 38,704 |
| FL Heritage Book Festival | 40,000 | 93.2% | 30,180 |
| EMMA ‐ Fiesta 450th | 50,000 | 87.8% | 29,713 |
| Romanza ‐ Celtic Festival | 40,000 | 89.0% | 25,097 |
| SA Maritime Heritage Festival | 40,000 | 88.2% | 24,207 |
| Limelight Theatre ‐ 450 Theatre Celebration | 40,000 | 86.6% | 22,497 |
| EMMA ‐ Zuckerman/Moscow | 33,000 | 88.2% | 19,970 |
| Historic Florida Militia ‐ School of the 16th Century | 30,000 | 88.4% | 18,320 |
| COSA ‐ 450th Commission‐ Celebrate 450! | 20,000 | 95.8% | 16,846 |
| COSAB ‐ Beach Blastoff | 20,000 | 93.8% | 15,483 |
| Historic Florida Militia ‐ Changing of the Guard | 26,000 | 87.0% | 14,895 |
| Flagler College ‐First America | 20,000 | 92.2% | 14,453 |
| British Nightwatch | 20,000 | 90.8% | 13,595 |
| Lightner Museum | 20,000 | 90.6% | 13,475 |
| COSA ‐ First City through Eyes of the Masters | 20,000 | 90.4% | 13,357 |
| SA Lighthouse and Museum | 20,000 | 89.8% | 13,006 |
| First Coast Opera ‐ Crystal Concert | 20,000 | 89.4% | 12,776 |
| SA Film Festival | 20,000 | 88.6% | 12,324 |
| SA Art Associaton ‐ A&C Festival | 20,000 | 88.6% | 12,324 |
| Limelight Theatre | 20,000 | 87.0% | 11,458 |
| SA Beach ‐ Music by the Sea | 20,000 | 86.6% | 11,249 |
| EPIC ‐ Taste of SA | 20,000 | 86.4% | 11,145 |
| Cultural Center PV Beach | 20,000 | 85.2% | 10,539 |
| SJ Chamber ‐ PV Auto Show | 15,000 | 90.6% | 10,107 |
| SA Historic Inns ‐ B&B Tour | 18,000 | 86.0% | 9,846 |
| SA Art Association ‐ Nature and Wildlife | 20,000 | 83.6% | 9,769 |
| Easter Parade | 20,000 | 82.2% | 9,131 |
| STAR ‐ Paseo Pastel | 25,000 | 75.6% | 8,166 |
| Holy Trinity ‐Greek Festival | 15,000 | 85.8% | 8,129 |
| FL Chamber Music Project | 20,000 | 76.2% | 6,743 |
| SA Music Festival | 15,000 | 79.8% | 6,083 |
| Middle Passage/Port Marker | 12,450 | 82.2% | 5,684 |
| COSA ‐ Concerts in the Plaza | 9,000 | 88.6% | 5,546 |
| SEA ‐Rails to Trails Festival | 12,000 | 76.6% | 4,131 |
| Friends of SA Amphitheater | 10,000 | 80.0% | 4,096 |
| SA Yacht Club ‐ Holiday Regatta | 9,000 | 79.6% | 3,613 |
| SA Beach ‐ BBQ & Blues | 7,500 | 80.0% | 3,072 |
| Romanza ‐ St Patrick Parade | 6,000 | 83.8% | 2,959 |
| FL Literary Arts Coalition | 4,000 | 91.0% | 2,743 |
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