Quote:All maintenance money for the stadium, baseball grounds, and the arena comes out of the same pool generated by the bed tax.  When people complain that this money would be better spent on school or roads, it has to be pointed out that this money is raised for the specific purpose of maintaining the sports facilities, and can't be used for anything else.  You don't have to take my word for it.  The city passed the bed tax years ago specifically for this. 

 

Jacksonville doesn't have to be a major tourist destination to raise significant funds through the bed tax.  There's a reason so many hotels have popped up around town over the past decade or so.  Whether it's people here on corporate trips, or military members here for training, there are a thousand different reasons why these hotels are being built, and why they're doing enough business to avoid closure. 

 

None of your property taxes, sales taxes, or gas taxes are being chipped in for stadium maintenance and upgrades. 

 

Once again, I'll take your word for it.  I just might do some research on this if I get REALLY bored and don't have much else to do.  You're pretty much always "up to speed" when it comes to city issues, so I in no way doubt what you are saying.

 

Being a person that travels a lot for my job, I still don't see a huge amount of revenue coming from a bed tax in Jacksonville.  Corporate travel probably makes up a very small amount.  We don't hold any major conventions or anything like that.  Military members aren't going to be spending a whole bunch on a "bed tax" either, especially if they stay on base at NAS Jax (no tax).

 

Again, I'm just going by experience and what I know.

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