Who will win the Local Option Tourist Development Tax jackpot?

The bed tax in St Johns County has been compared to many things over its 28-year run, some good and some not so good. A quick look at local comments from readers on several media forums range from praise to demonization; with some comments implying that if you question the “tax that you don’t pay” you are being un-American.

Last year, the Tourist Development Council was charged with oversight of an $8,938,922 budget. $9 million dollars can attract the wrong element to a “volunteer” board, and when that board is stocked with individuals who have connections to the events and organizations fighting for their “fair share” of the money, good people do bad things.

It appeared that after the recommendations for distribution of about $2.3 million of money in Category 2 funds was announced by the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Funding Panel last year, there was going to be a rebellion. Tar and feathers were in scarce supply when allegations of cronyism, favoritism, fraud, waste and abuse were leveled at the appointed funding panel, appointed Tourist Development Council, contractor St Johns Cultural Council, and even the Board of County Commissioners, who are ultimately the “deciders” of who will win the “Bed Tax Jackpot”.

So this year, the “insiders” are trying something different. They have taken some of the heat off the funding panel by allowing them to review and rank this year’s fourty-one program applicants — but NOT make any recommendation as to what percentage of their funding request is to be granted.

The candidates have been sorted by appropriate funding category and the order in which they were received. At a public meeting being held Wednesday, July 9 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Auditorium of the St. Johns County Administration Building located at 500 San Sebastian View in St. Augustine, each applicant will have the opportunity to present a three-minute update highlighting any new information since the application deadline in April. Panel members will then have the opportunity to ask questions. Each application will be scored by the panel following the Q&A. This process will continue for each application.

Each applicant must have a representative available to answer questions from the panel. Following the scoring of all applications, applicants will have a public comment period prior to final motion and adoption of the scores.

The panel will not be involved in the allocation of grant dollars. Scores will be forwarded to the TDC to allocate the available funds.

July 9 Panel Meeting

2015 ACH Grant Applications

Program Development

15.001 PD

COSA - Tapestry

15.002 PD

Romanza - 4th Annual Festivale

15.003 PD

SA Historical Society -Vodcasts

15.004 PD

Holy Trinity -Greek Festival

15.005 PD

EMMA - Fiesta 450th

ACH Ongoing Programs

15.006 ANN

SA Historic Inns  - B&B Tour

15.007 ANN

SA Music Festival

15.008 ANN

Flagler College -First America

15.009 ANN

Romanza - Celtic Festival

15.010 ANN

FL Heritage Book Festival

15.011 ANN

EMMA - Zuckerman/Moscow

15.012 ANN

EPIC - Taste of SA

15.013 ANN

STAR - Paseo Pastel

15.014 ANN

Limelight Theatre - 450 Theatre Celebration

15.015 ANN

SA Maritime Heritage Festival

15.016 ANN

SA Film Festival

Enhancement/Reenactment

15.017 ER

Easter Parade

15.018 ER

Middle Passage/Port Marker

15.019 ER

Historic Florida Militia - School of the 16th Century

15.020 ER

COSA - Concerts in the Plaza

15.021 ER

Romanza - St Patrick Parade

15.022 ER

British Nightwatch

15.023 ER

SA Yacht Club - Holiday Regatta

15.024 ER

SEA -Rails to Trails Festival

15.025 ER

FL Literary Arts Coalition

15.026 ER

FL Chamber Music Project

15.027 ER

COSAB - Beach Blastoff

15.028 ER

First Coast Opera - Crystal Concert

15.029 ER

SA Beach - BBQ & Blues

15.030 ER

SA Beach - Music by the Sea

15.031 ER

COSA - 450th Commission- Celebrate 450!

15.032 ER

SJ Chamber - PV Auto Show

15.033 ER

SA Art Association - A&C Festival

15.034 ER

SA Art Association - Nature and Wildlife

15.035 ER

COSA - First City through Eyes of the Masters

15.036 ER

Friends of SA Amphitheater

15.037 ER

Historic Florida Militia - Changing of the Guard

ACH Facilities

15.038 FAC

Lightner Museum

15.039 FAC

Limelight Theatre

15.040 FAC

SA Lighthouse and Museum

15.041 FAC

Cultural Center PV Beach

First established by County ordinance 86-72, the “bed tax” is assessed on short-term transient rentals. Hotel, motel rooms, campground spaces, condominiums, apartments and even private home rentals are subject to the tax if they are rented for six months or less. The current level of the county-wide tax is three percent which generates approximately $5 million annually, Chapter 125.0104 Florida Statutes is the state enabling legislation which includes procedures for implementing the tax and how the proceeds can be used among other things.