Orlando hospitality group calls for new sales tax to improve downtown safety

ORLANDO, Florida. – On Thursday, the Orlando Hospitality Alliance submitted a proposal to the City for a 5% surcharge on all sales in downtown Orlando’s entertainment district.

They call it a security surcharge.

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Monica McCowan, vice president of the Orlando Hospitality Alliance, said: “The first thing we want to use it for is to hire full-time police officers specifically trained to work in the downtown entertainment area.”

McCowan said they estimate the surcharge could generate millions of dollars to be used for security, telling News 6 that “with a conservative estimate of about $60 million a year for alcohol sales at a downtown entertainment center, we expect 3 dollar. $1 million in revenue will go towards security in downtown Orlando.”

News 6 asked McCowan what she would say to business owners, who may be concerned that this additional tax will discourage people from visiting bars and restaurants.

“There are many examples of municipalities across America and around the world that charge extra for alcohol…People want to come to downtown Orlando and they want to be safe,” McCowan said.

News 6 took the proposal to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for his reaction and he said, “So obviously we have passed the ordinances on first reading and invited downtown stakeholders to meet with us over the next few days. weeks. If they have any ideas, I understand, well, I know that yesterday our employees had a big meeting, I don’t know how it ended and what different ideas came up.

McCowan said their next step is to organize small group workshops with city personnel and the Orlando Police Department to further discuss their proposal.

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