Sumter County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing at 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Everglades Recreation Center about the future of the tourist development tax.
The tax is used to support public events that bring tourists to the county, but commissioners want to eliminate it to help tourist businesses that have suffered lost revenue during the pandemic.
Visitors who stay at hotels or campgrounds pay the tax instead of county residents.
The Villages receives $120,000 each year to help fund entertainment on the Lake Sumter and Brownwood town squares. Money also supports high school sports tournaments, clay shooting contests and the annual hoedown sponsored by The Villages Homeowners Association.
Funds were allocated in July for the 2020-21 fiscal year and commissioners have said they would like these grants to continue.
At a meeting Tuesday night, they also approved an amendment to the tourism strategic plan that would allocate about $2.4 million remaining in the account to build a roof over the horse arena at the Sumter County Fairgrounds.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said commissioners have two options to build the roof. They can either transfer the horse arena to county ownership or grant the money directly to the fair association, which would retain arena ownership. If the fair association retains ownership, they would have three years to build the roof.
Commissioner Doug Gilpin, tourism council chairman, last month proposed abolishing the tax and financing the roof. He said the fair association should retain ownership.
“We’ve talked about this project for many years,” he said. “They’ll put in a wonderful facility.”
Gilpin said the project will increase the value of the arena, which could be used for concerts and other events.
The county also can repeal the tax or declare a moratorium for a specific length of time.
“What I would prefer is just eliminate it and if it’s needed in the future, it can be reinstated,” Gilpin said.
