The Manatee County Tax Collector’s office reports tourist tax collections netted $1,445,740.17 in April, up from the $1,226,861.50 collected for April 2018. That’s an increase of 17.84%.
Holmes Beach led the way in island city collections, bringing in $321,678.39 or 22.25% of the tourist tax dollars in Manatee County. Numbers were released by the tax collector June 1.
Anna Maria was second at 16.37% of county tourist taxes, with collections of $236,719.64.
Bradenton Beach collected $108,530.01, accounting for 7.51% of the county tax.
Cathy Pizzo, vice president of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, said activities at local accommodations have been hopping and the summer tourism season looks promising.
Tourist tax dollar collections are reported in arrears and May numbers will be released July 1. The local tourist tax dollar rate is 5%. The tax, also known as the bed tax or resort tax, is collected on overnight rentals of less than six months.
In May 2018, tourist tax collections netted $917,836.85. June 2018 and July 2018 reached the million-dollar marks, with collections of $1,481,899.76 for June and $1,269,553.52 in July.
— Sandy Ambrogi
