Any Florida resident out there can tell us what taxes go to subsidize the parks? I know you don't have an income tax. So, is it property taxes or sales taxes? Or more likely a combination at the bottom line off the revenue of the state?
Assuming sales tax is a component, then out of state residents contribute to that tax base.
Tourists flock to Florida's 663 miles of beaches and warm climate. Tourism, Florida's biggest industry, contributed $111.7 billion to the state's economy in 2016. While much of that money went to hotels and recreation, other sectors of the Florida economy get a big boost from out-of-towners. Visitors spent almost $16 billion on retail purchases as well. Using the average sales tax rate of 7%, that's 1.1B contributed to the tax base. Some of the more popular tourist spots, I suspect, have higher sales tax rate.
From what I've seen/read with a little research, sales tax contributes 80% of the tax revenue for the state. So, I would think us non-residents who contribute to that tax base should have an input and receive some consideration.
It's certainly a complicated question. How to implement, how to enforce, how to keep people from gaming the system, how to try to still support the huge tourism industry (which includes snowboarders) which is the state's number one industry.
Mike
