Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran sues Tampa over "illegal tax" on hotel rooms

[TexasTowelie]

In a possible blow to financing a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in Hillsborough County, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran filed a lawsuit against the city of Tampa for what he called an "illegal tax" on hotel rooms.

"To say that this is one of the most egregious cases of spitting in the face of the (state) constitution is an understatement," Corcoran told reporters in Tallahassee on Thursday.

Corcoran was referring to a $1.50 fee that began getting assessed at Ybor City and Tampa downtown hotels this summer to finance marketing efforts for the area. Officials say it will produce about $1 million this year, but could expand to include other hotels in the rest of Hillsborough County.

If the assessment is struck down, it could complicate efforts to finance a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2017/10/26/richard-corcoran-sues-tampa-over-illegal-tax-on-hotel-rooms/

[Stryst]

1. A cat for a hat, or a hat for a cat; nothing for nothing

If this tax is too burdensome to the hotel industry, then they don't get to participate in group marketing.