CLEARWATER, FL The St. Petersburgh/Clearwater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is facing its first budget cut in years due to the Pinellas County Commission s decision in March to help raise $32 million to upgrade spring training facilities in Clearwater and Dunedin. The cut will reduce the CVB s budget by $396,000.
A $2 million reserve fund earmarked for a tourist ad blitz in the case of a public relations crisis such as a hurricane has also been cut by a half-million dollars.
The county splits the proceeds of a tax on hotel bills to pay for marketing, beach nourishment and debt service on baseball stadiums, including Tropicana Field in St. Petersburgh. Proceeds of the tax are forecast to increase 5% next fiscal year. (5/10/01)