Tourist tax dollars dipped locally in February despite an early start to the 2021 tourist season.
While the Manatee County tourist tax collection since July 2020 has showed improvement over past years, this year’s February tax was lower when compared to February 2020.
February’s tax revenue totaled $1,928,629, a decline of 8.78% from 2020’s $2,114,161.
The tax is the 5% charged on rentals of six months or less collected by the government. The February revenues were reported April 1 by the Manatee County Tax Collector.
The February bed tax collection showed growth over January, indicating a continued economic rebound nearly a year into the pandemic.
Of the $884,571 collected from rentals in the island’s three cities in February, the tax collector’s report shows $491,018, or 25.46%, was collected in Holmes Beach
Anna Maria accommodations generated $266,810, or 13.83%, and the $126,743 collected from Bradenton Beach was 6.57% of the county total.
Bradenton Beach was the only island city to show increased bed tax collection in February compared to January, as both Holmes Beach and Anna Maria were down $19,196 and $9,326 respectively.
The island continued to generate the most bed tax dollars for the county in February.
More February numbers:
- Unincorporated Manatee County, $697,246, 36.15%;
- Bradenton, $129,438, 6.71%;
- Longboat Key, $210,013, 10.89%;
- Palmetto, $7,401, 0.38%.
February yielded a net collection of $1,870,809 after the state’s 3% commission.
The March numbers are expected in early May.
The February and March tax funding will be discussed at the next Manatee County Tourist Development Council meeting, set for 9 a.m. Monday, April. 19, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto.
About the TDC
The TDC makes recommendations to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners regarding the operation of projects in the tourist development plan and how tourist development tax revenue may be spent.
The TDC includes chair Misty Servia, vice chair Vernon DeSear, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jack Rynerson, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.
For more TDC information, contact Monica Luff at 941-729-9177 or monica.luff@bacvb.com.
February tourist tax revenues
February 2014: $1,231,827
February 2015: $1,426,366
February 2016: $1,524,518
February 2017: $1,516,302
February 2018: $1,640,165
February 2019: $1,813,708
February 2020: $2,114,161
February 2021: $1,928,629
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector