April 22, 2016
Enterprise Florida, the state’s primary job recruitment operation, isn’t the only public-private partnership in this state that deserves more scrutiny of its use of public tax dollars. Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, also should get a thorough examination of how it spends public money — and a healthy dose of openness. Record tourism does not justify a blank check and a blanket of secrecy.
Visit Florida receives $75 million in public money to promote the state, which is more money than the state has spent in some years on maintaining public schools or buying environmentally sensitive land. Yet no elected state officials sit on its board, and there is no government audit that thoroughly reviews where the money goes. Don’t bother asking for details, because the Sunshine State’s marketing arm likes to work in the darkness. [READ MORE]