Part of the rental car surcharge would pay for the Orlando area's Lynx bus system. But the larger hotel tax would be split 50/50 between funding new advertising campaigns encouraging tourists to visit Orlando and money to rebuild or renovate Orlando's two major sports stadiums, The TD Waterhouse Centre and the Citrus Bowl.
The WDW and UO folks want the ad campaign, obviously. And the local pols want to keep the Orlando Magic and college bowl games(the stadiums' main tenants) happy without soaking local taxpayers.
Those local residents will get to decide whether the tax increases happen, as local law requires a referendum before they can go into effect. The Orlando Sentinel has all the details today.
Personally, I wish governments would stop paying tax money (from whatever the source) on professional sports facilities. Let the teams pay. A better bus system makes sense, though, and should be welcomed by tourists and theme park employees, provided they get better service as a result. And the ad campaign promoting the area could end up paying for itself in more tourists coming to the area.
And here is a link that might be of interest to those planning said campaign... ;-)
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The TD Waterhouse Center is in need of major revamping. I am not really sold on a demo option. Who cares about the Magic. They won't improve their team, so why improve the arena for them, BUT there are major music acts that pass Orlando by simply because they have no place they feel comfortable playing in.
Many locals share the same opinion that the acoustics at TDW are bad. That would be the reason for my major support of a project like that.
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I own a local business and any increase in taxes is sure to hit my pocket, on the flip side the increase in advertising nationally can only hrlp my foot traffic.
Of course, does Orlando really need ore advertising? Everyone knows Orlando exists and what it exists for.
Disney & UO's advertising bucks already contributes heavily to the tourist trade for all businesses here.
In regards to the Lynx bus network, seriusly, this will not help tourism at all.
Tourists will either get a cab, flagged from the street, booked through their hotel, or picked up at a a taxi stand at an attraction. If they are staying on I-Drive they will likely get on an I-Ride trolley to navigate or use the free park transportation offered at all hotels.
The Lynx bus network is out for 99.9% of tourists.
Maybe they should spend some of these tax dollars on building sidewalks, safe crossings (Orlando has the highest death rate on roads in the US) and protect the people who will be paying the additional taxes.
And finally, the Sports Stadiums should be paying for themselves.
Granted the Citrus bowl is a bit of an Eyesore but no tax dollar should be spent on this when they charge an entrance fee for events!