PROPOSED BED TAX INCREASE

The Escambia County Tourist Development Council has voted to recommend to the Escambia County Commission that the bed tax be raised by 25%, from 4 to 5 cents to help keep the organization operating while the state’s tourism industry struggles in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The TDC also recommended that Visit Pensacola be given up to a million dollars in reserve funding to help the tourism industry recover. Escambia County is allowed to collect up to five cents on every dollar spent on hotel rooms in the county and spend it on tourism-related activities. Escambia County Commissioners will have to approve any increase in the bed tax.

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