Jesse Scheckner
RV park owners across the Sunshine State may get to keep more of their earnings through a just-added provision in the House’s tax package for next fiscal year.
The House Ways and Means Committee released a proposed committee substitute for its taxation proposal (HB 7033), including new considerations for tourism development taxes, tourism development committees and affordable housing.
It also contains tweaks to how counties, cities and special districts would be able to levy special non-ad valorem assessments — taxes based on factors other than property value, such as square footage or number of units — for RV parks.
Under the proposed new language, local governments would not be able to levy non-ad valorem special assessments against any portion of a RV parking space or campsite beyond the maximum square footage of an RV unit.
Local governments would also have to consider the RV park’s occupancy rates to “ensure any special assessment is fairly and reasonably apportioned among the recreational vehicle parks that receive the special benefit,” the legislation said.
Florida Statutes define “recreational vehicle park” as “a place set aside and offered by a person, for either direct or indirect remuneration of the owner, lessor, or operator of such place, for the parking, accommodation, or rental of five or more recreational vehicles or tents; and the term also includes buildings and sites set aside for group camping and similar recreational facilities.”
Florida has more RV parks and campgrounds than any other state in the nation, with more than 1,260 parks statewide and over 200,000 camping and RV sites, according to the Florida RV Park and Campground Association, which found that more than 7 million campers and RVers vacation in Florida every year.
RV campers spend an average $140 daily, or roughly $1,600 per camping trip, with most of the funds going toward sightseeing, food, fuel, entertainment, accommodations, RV services and supplies, and outdoor equipment.
The RV park-related language added Monday to HB 7033 came from legislation Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Danny Burgess filed in February that doesn’t have a House companion and didn’t receive a committee hearing.
