Energy costs are locally spent, strengthening the local economy and creating jobs.

In addition, £60 million was spent locally on goods and services for the site.

"Few hoteliers complain about that," he said, "because most of it gets spent locally."

Its $25 million annual budget would be spent locally, whereas the county gets back about 50 percent of the taxes paid to the state.

"Any discharger would prefer to have money spent locally, where they could reap favorable publicity and be seen as environmental philanthropists," Mr. Sheehan said.

"Our money should be spent locally on our own parks, facilities and clubs," she said.

But officials say that the agricultural dollar goes longer because it is spent locally and that no industry can yet replace bananas in importance.

Much of the school's $750,000 annual budget is spent locally, using vendors and other services.

Employment of smaller subcontractors in the area to perform the work, allowing for the majority of the project funds to be spent locally.

The tokens could be spent locally to buy bread and other basic commodities.