Lodging company Airbnb could soon pay thousands of dollars in tax revenue to Alachua County.
The revenue will come in the form of a bed tax — that's a 5 percent tax on tourists staying in Alachua County. Hotels have to pay the tax, but the online platform has never charged its users in Alachua County.
The Alachua County Tax Collector's Office has spent more than a year working on an agreement with Airbnb.
Assistant county manager Gina Peebles said Airbnb's bed tax payments should bring in about $80,000 annually, some of which will boost the county's marketing budget.
"Maybe billboards on I-75," she said, "maybe direct targeted marketing to folks that we would like to attract to come here, those that maybe want to stay and play an extra day, some that really want to explore some of the natural beauty that Florida has to offer."
Alachua County expects to complete a deal in two to three months.