The issue is part of Corcoran's philosophical opposition to using taxpayer dollars for economic development. | AP Photo Tourist tax vote has Corcoran eyeing fight between Clearwater aquarium, Scientologists

TALLAHASSEE — As he continues his fight against taxpayer-funded economic development, House Speaker Richard Corcoran is considering stepping into an ongoing battle between the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Church of Scientology.

The aquarium has gotten worldwide attention because it's home to Winter, a dolphin that lost its tail after getting it caught in a crab trap in 2005. It starred in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2, which has brought fame and merchandising revenue to the aquarium.


Corcoran is eyeing a recent decision by the Pinellas County Commission to give $26 million in tourism development taxes to the aquarium. The money is being doled out over three years to help fund an expansion.

The issue has been a long stewing local fight as the Church of Scientology, which has a huge presence in Clearwater, lobbied commissioners hard to not give the green light to the funding.

“We’ve received information that raises some questions,” said Fred Piccolo, Corcoran’s communications director on Wednesday. “The speaker will be briefed after budget negotiations are complete and we will determine further action at that time.”

“He remains fully committed to ensuring all tax dollars — including tourist taxes — are spent appropriately,” he said.

David Yates, the aquarium’s chief executive officer, said he is “not aware” of Corcoran’s interest in the funding issue.

“CMA is one of the highest rated and best-known non-profits in the country,” he said via email to POLITICO Florida. “We are always glad to answer any questions elected officials might have.”

The issue came to Corcoran’s attention after attorneys for the church circulated hundreds of pages of documents outlining what it says is a misuse of funds, a contention the aquarium has fought. The church sent the packet of documents to both local and state officials, including Corcoran, Senate President Joe Negron and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“It is the duty of the board to every citizen of Pinellas County to weigh this information before it embarks on handout of this magnitude of taxpayer’s funds,” wrote Monique Yingling, a church attorney, in a seven-page letter that accompanied the documents.

Among the many things they highlight is the $529,000 Yates earned in 2015, and the fact that the aquarium turned down the church’s $15 million offer to buy a 1.4 acre piece of land owned by the aquarium, which sold the property to the City of Clearwater for $4 million.

In an April 28 column in the Tampa Bay Times responding to the church’s letter, Yates defended spending by the aquarium.

“As a non-profit, we are good stewards of all our funds — public and private,” he wrote. “The aquarium is funded substantially by ticket sales and has received no financial grants from the city of Clearwater since 2010.”

He wrote that the land sale to the city was part of a “written commitment” and years in the making.

Beyond the tourist tax money, the aquarium has received $1 million in the state budget over the past few legislative sessions. The aquarium, which is in the district of Republican Senate budget chief Jack Latvala, has $1 million in the proposed Senate budget, but the funding is not in the House’s proposed spending plan.

Latvala, who is involved with final budget negotiations, declined to comment. A final budget deal is expected to be presented to members Friday with a vote scheduled for Monday.

The issue is part of Corcoran's philosophical opposition to using taxpayer dollars for economic development. In January, he sent letters to every major tourist development council in the state asking for detailed financial records, including spending on things like marketing and lobbying.

In his January letter, he cited what he saw as “spending abuses and unwarranted secrecy” by the tourism councils.