County funding for Waterfest, air show postponed

PORT CHARLOTTE — In-kind funding for the Englewood Beach Waterfest and the Florida International Air Show is on hold while Charlotte County officials review its processes.

County commissioners and staff highlighted that continued support contradicts existing county policy that stipulates funding can only be given for two years.

Commissioners reviewed applications for in-kind funding for the two events. Both would receive $50,000 toward budgets if there were scores above a certain evaluation threshold.

County Attorney Jannette Knowlton noted early in the presentation that the application was not consistent with existing county policy.

During the presentation by Tourism Director Sean Doherty, Commissioner Joe Tiseo stressed the commission needed to abide by its own policy.

“We’re not here to subsidize ticket pricing,” he said.

He also said that he supported both events as beneficial for the community, and noted that there was an avenue to provide funding out of the county’s “bed tax” for hotel room rentals — which is aimed at promoting tourism — rather than its general fund.

Commission Chair Bill Truex and Vice Chair Chris Constance agreed, with Doherty noting that the county is anticipating more funding from that source thanks to the opening of Sunseeker Resort.

“I think we do need to look at policy on this,” Truex said.

Constance ultimately made a motion to postpone both applications indefinitely, which was passed unanimously.

In the meantime, Doherty said he and his staff would look at adjusting their bed tax budget to include in-kind funding for the events.

Doherty, in his presentation, cited the Waterfest and the Air Show as major contributors to the county’s tourism industry.

The Englewood Beach Waterfest, for instance, was estimated to have generated approximately $5.6 million in total economic impact in 2021, including roughly $3.9 million in spending by tourists.

The 2023 Air Show had a similar impact, generating roughly $5.3 million in economic activity.

Both events are slated for November, leaving time for the tourism office to provide a new funding plan to the county board for final approval by the Sept. 30 deadline for the next fiscal year’s budget.