Thread by @Scott_Maxwell

Tomorrow, Orange County commissioners will vote on doubling taxpayer subsidies for Visit Orlando - to more than $100 million a year.

That's twice what the county spends on its bus system.

It's twice what Visit FLORIDA gets (to market the whole state).
orlandosentinel.com/opinion/scott-…

This tourism-promotion group is supposed to be a public/private "partnership."
It is not.
At least not mathematically.

The public gave $60 million last year.
Tax records show members only coughed up $3 million in dues.
To promote their own industry, mind you.

Maybe before taxpayers contribute MORE, private beneficiaries should become equal fiscal partners ... in their own slush fund.

We've yet to see local leaders as tough questions about how tourism taxes are spent.
Another billion or so for Visit Orlando.
Another half-billion or so for the convention center.

Oh, but hey, locals: We're gonna need to raise YOUR taxes to pay for roads.
orlandosentinel.com/opinion/scott-…

Maybe county commissioners will ask tough questions.

Maybe they'll say: "Hey, before we give a billion bucks or so to Visit Orlando, maybe we should see what our *local needs* are."

Maybe someone will finally say: "Hey, tourism bosses, you don't call all the shots here!"

I doubt it.

But I'd love to be surprised.

The vote is today.
Pretty sure this will be the biggest taxpayer-funding for a visitor bureau in Florida history.

Subsidies scheduled to will keep rising.
$73 million estimated next year.
$99 million by 2023
Higher every year thru 2029

@Bearlando will cover for the Sentinel.