DEMAIL, Industry News Provided For You By DEMA
Industry News Provided By DEMAJuly 22, 2010
In This Issue
Florida Legislators Asked for Assistance
Florida Executive Order May Offer Tax Relief to Impacted Businesses
Is Your Gulf Coast Dive Business Operating?
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FLORIDA LEGISLATORS ASKED TO ASSIST DIVE OPERATORS IN THE GULF COAST 
 
Help Requested for Businesses Impacted by the Adverse News Stories Following the Oil Spill

On July 21, DEMA sent a letter to incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos and incoming Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon requesting assistance to help dive businesses struggling due to the many adverse news stories following the Deep Horizon/BP Oil Spill.  The letter was also sent to those legislators who will be spending the next few weeks assessing the damage and developing plans to help those Florida businesses.
 
As part of that assistance DEMA is asking that representatives from the Diving Industry be allowed to testify before Senate and House Committees on the economic value of these businesses to Florida, the impact of the oil spill and why these businesses need the assistance of the Florida Legislature in the short and long term.  In addition, DEMA pledged to provide information and studies to assist in the drafting of legislation which could help these diving businesses.
 
A copy of the letter to the Senator and Representative may be found here.
FLORIDA EXECUTIVE ORDER MAY OFFER TAX RELIEF TO OPERATIONS AFFECTED BY OIL SPILL
 
Florida Dive Operators Who Have Been Impacted by the Deep Horizon Oil Spill May Be Able to Seek Property Tax Relief Under Executive Order Signed by Governor Charlie Crist
 
Executive Order 10-169 recognizes that the affected Florida counties are heavily dependent on tourism, boating, seafood and other industries that are vulnerable to the effects of the oil spill.  Businesses which own their property, or which have leases with property taxes separately itemized can now request an interim property assessment.  Such an assessment allows property owners to document claims arising immediately from the decreased value of their property due to the effects of the spill. 
 
According to the Executive Order, the documentation provided by property appraisers in the interim assessment may be utilized to substantiate claims for the economic loss resulting from liability for property taxes that were originally based on the January 1, 2010 values, despite a reduction in the value of real property caused by the spill.
 
The Executive Order may be found here.
 
IS YOUR GULF COAST DIVE BUSINESS OPERATING?
 
Let your customers know that you are still taking divers to undamaged and unaffected diving areas by posting your positive information on the forum at www.GulfStateDiving.com.  DEMA has continued to publicize this website through various traditional media channels (television and print) while also reaching more than 135 million readers through online publicity.  Please post your information from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas on www.GulfStateDiving.com today and keep it updated as much as possible!