During the 2010 fiscal year, the municipality of Orange Beach received a little over $5 million in sales tax, whereas the municipality of Gulf Shores received $8.5 million in sales tax.

Significantly, Orange Beach received $4.6 million  in lodgings tax and Gulf Shores received $3.5 million in lodgings tax, and the Tourism Bureau received $3.2 million in lodgings tax from the combined taxable municipal districts.

Due to the above figures, the city of Orange Beach should urge Rep. Steve McMillan to submit an amendment to the current (1993) Lodgings Tax District Law that will allow a 20 percent rebate (to Orange Beach) of all taxes collected by the Tourism Bureau within the corporate limits of Orange Beach. After all, if Orange Beach is responsible for all infrastructure costs that accommodate most of the vacationing visitors on Pleasure Island (excluding Fort Morgan), then it makes financial fairness sense for the voting residents of Orange Beach to benefit from tourism contributions rather than personally face continued rising infrastructure costs. This 20 percent rebate amendment will also assure a retaining of all competent municipal employees presently on the payroll.

Dave Johnson

Orange Beach