CLAY COUNTY — Even with three hurricanes making landfall in Florida last year — all leaving widespread damage — the Sunshine State still welcomed 142.9 million tourists who spent $131 billion, both records.

While the highways and skyways are sure to remain busy this year, there is concern about how many will make their way into Clay County if the Florida Senate passes House Bill 7033 and Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it into law, eliminating the 62 of 67 counties that have Tourist Development councils.

“There would be no one to manage the destination marketing effort in Atlanta, in Tampa, and Orlando, to invite people to Clay County,” said the former director of Tourism for Clay County. “This is a simple invitation. That's what we do when marketing: We offer a simple invitation to come and visit.”

To reduce property taxes, the House voted 78-29 on April 25 to dissolve TDCs and send 75% of the money collected in bed taxes and fees to reduce a county’s ad valorem tax beginning in 2026. The remaining 25% would be spent at the discretion of the Board of County Commissioners.

Republicans Sam Garrison and Judson Sapp, representing portions of Clay County, voted to eliminate TDCs.

DeSantis said the state gets enough tax support from foreigners and tourists to relieve homeowners of some of their tax burdens.

The county collected $8.1 million in bed taxes and other fees at hotels in 2023-24 to pay for the TDC. The Florida Senate and the House still must work on the bill's language, but if it moves to the governor’s desk, tourism money will be funneled into the county’s general fund.

Two of the county’s most significant assets – the Trasher-Horne Center and the Clay County Agricultural Fair – would lose substantial funding.

“We're going to lose a big chunk of money if this passes,” said Fair Executive Director Tasha Hyder. “We're one of the largest beneficiaries of the TDC for Clay County. As an industry, it’s going to be pretty bad. We get about $45,000 from the tourism council. We’re a nonprofit and our margins are small.”

Rep. Wyman Duggan, a Republican from Jacksonville, sponsored the bill.

“Other structural property tax relief has to be done through the ballot in November 2026, which would not take effect until the tax bill 2027,” he said. “That’s a long way off. This is what we can do (now).”

Thrasher-Horne Executive Director Bob Olson said the 1,728-seat theater, conference center and gallery depend on tax dollars.

“There are about 24,000 venues like us throughout the country,” he said. “The budget allocations, 49% of our income comes through earned income – that’s your ticket sales, concessions and things of that nature. Another 40% comes through private donors and memberships, but 11% comes from local government support, mainly in our case, TDC. In our case, that’s about 8%, which is significant dollars.”

TDC supports other projects including the Scottish Games, Clay County Regional Sports Complex, MotoSurf, and state and national tourism marketing promotions.

The bill also would defund the state’s tourism department, VISIT FLORIDA, a public-private promotion mechanism.

“I’m concerned about what it's going to do to small businesses,” Morgan said. “Small businesses like restaurants and boutiques that thrive, survive on that visitor dollar. That's what keeps a lot of their doors open. If visitors don't know about their business and that marketing isn't happening, they don't come. Those small businesses can't make it.”

Olson said it becomes more challenging to do more with less as costs escalate.

“We're tourism specific, and we would be competing, in theory, against all kinds of other people for dollars,” he said. “Typically, our world doesn't come high in priorities when it competes with other worlds.”

The regular legislative session was scheduled to conclude on May 2, but it was held until June 2.