Subject:
Title
Ordinance amending Section 118-32 of the Pinellas County Code relating to the Tourist Development Plan.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adoption of an ordinance amending Section 118-32 of the Pinellas County Code relating to the Tourist Development Plan.
• The proposed revision provides a one-year increase in the maximum amount of Tourist Development Tax available for elite events, from $3,000,000 to not more than $3,367,500.00 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 only.
• The proposed amendment does not permanently increase the maximum amount of funding available for elite events and the $3,000,000.00 maximum will remain in effect for subsequent fiscal years.
• The Tourist Development Council, at its meeting on July 15, 2026, voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners a one-year amendment to the amount of funding available for elite events.
• The adoption of this ordinance by itself has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County. However, if amended, this would allow all eligible FY27 Elite Events to be fully funded at the level they are eligible for, as recommended by the Tourist Development Council on July 15, 2026.
• Elite Events funding is included in the FY27 Proposed Budget at $3.0 million. Adoption of this ordinance would provide the authority with increasing the funding for FY27; any corresponding budget adjustment would be subject to Board approval.
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Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
Summary
The proposed ordinance amends the Tourist Development Plan to provide a one-year increase in the amount of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funding available for elite events. Solely for Fiscal Year 2027, the amendment authorizes funding of not more than $3,367,500 for elite events under subsection (i) of the Tourist Development Plan. The maximum amount available for elite events will return to $3,000,000 for subsequent fiscal years.
The proposed amendment is limited to Fiscal Year 2027 and does not permanently modify the $3,000,000 maximum amount of funding otherwise authorized for elite events under the Tourist Development Plan.
Amendment of the Tourist Development Plan requires a supermajority vote by the Board of County Commissioners pursuant to Section 125.0104(4)(d), Florida Statutes.
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Background Information:
In accordance with Section 125.0104, Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners has previously adopted a Tourist Development Plan governing the use and allocation of Tourist Development Tax revenues. The Tourist Development Plan currently provides for the use of up to $3,000,000 annually for elite events under subsection (i).
On July 15, 2026, the Tourist Development Council reviewed and voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners a one-year amendment to the Tourist Development Plan to increase the maximum amount of funding available for elite events for Fiscal Year 2027.
The proposed ordinance would authorize, solely for Fiscal Year 2027, funding of not more than $3,367,500 for elite events under subsection (i) of the Tourist Development Plan. This represents a one-year increase of $367,500 above the standard $3,000,000 maximum. The amendment is intended to apply only to Fiscal Year 2027, after which the maximum amount of funding available for elite events will revert to $3,000,000 unless otherwise amended in accordance with applicable law.
Amendment of the Tourist Development Plan requires a supermajority vote by the Board of County Commissioners pursuant to Section 125.0104(4)(d), Florida Statutes.
Fiscal Impact:
Amending this ordinance, by itself, has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County. However, the amended TDP would allow additional potential projects to be eligible for TDT funding within the Elite Events Funding Program.
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, President & CEO, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Proposed Ordinance (redline version)
Proposed TD Plan (Redline Version)
Public Hearing Advertisement
Business Impact Estimate