TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Iorio Targets Tourist Taxes To Save Sagging Streetcars

ADVERTISEMENT

By RICH SHOPES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

TAMPA - Mayor Pam Iorio is proposing to use tourist tax dollars to fund the flagging streetcar system, owned by the city and county transit agency. The streetcar "has a strong connection to tourist development. There's no question about that," Iorio said.

The 2.4-mile system has struggled financially since its old-fashioned trolleys first rolled five years ago at Channelside and Ybor City. An endowment provides $1 million in principal and interest for yearly operations, but ridership never reached expectations, and the fund's principal has been tapped faster than anticipated. Of the original $5 million, about $3 million remains. The endowment will run out by 2011 or 2012 unless other funding sources are found.

Iorio said she asked City Attorney David Smith to check the legality of using the tourist taxes, also called bed taxes, to fund the streetcar.

Most of the 400,000-plus yearly riders are tourists and conventioneers, but state law might prevent bed taxes from going to the streetcar, said Marilyn Hett, tourism development manager at the county's Tourist Development Council, which oversees the taxes. "I've never heard of using that money for mass transit funding," Hett said. She said using tourist tax money for the streetcar probably would require a change in legislation that allowed the taxes to be collected.

Most bed tax money goes to market tourism, with some to bonds for the St. Pete Times Forum and Raymond James Stadium. About $21 million was collected last year. Michael English, vice president of the streetcar system's board, said it makes sense to use some taxes because "the streetcar does contribute to the visitor experience."

Reporter Ted Jackovics contributed to this report. Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT