Students returned to classrooms in August but tourists continued to travel for a slice of island time.
August 2021 showed a significant increase over last year’s tourist tax numbers.
Totaling $1,448,333, the August gross revenue from the 5% bed tax on accommodations of six months or less was up 22% over August 2020, when $1,185,575 was collected.
The Manatee County Tax Collector reported the August revenues Oct. 1.
Nearly half of the bed tax revenue — 48% — was generated by vacation lodging in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, according to the report.
In gross tax, Holmes Beach accounted for $415,452 or 28.68%.
Anna Maria netted 14.37% with $208,168.
Bradenton Beach collected $74,286 or 5.13%.
Other August figures:
- Unincorporated Manatee County, $518,735, 35.82%;
- Bradenton, $110,310, 7.62%;
- Longboat Key, $117,734, 8.13%;
- Palmetto, $3,684, 0.25%.
After the commission and fee deductions, the overall tax netted for Manatee County in August 2021 was $1,404,882.
The resort tax is collected by the state and then funded back to the county. State law requires use of resort tax funds for tourism-related projects only.
The money funds the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bradenton Area Convention Center, tourist-related entities such as Realize Bradenton and the Pittsburgh Pirates, beach renourishment and other projects.
Tourist tax collections are collected and reported in arrears, with the August tax collected in September and reported Oct. 1.
September is being collected this month and will be reported on or around Nov. 1. The gross tax collected in September 2020 was $1,116,591.
The updated numbers will be discussed at the next TDC meeting, set for 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
The council includes County Commissioner Misty Servia, chair, vice chair Vernon DeSear, Eric Cairns, Ed Chiles, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Jack Rynerson, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.
For more information, call 941-729-9177 or email info@bacvb.com.
August tourist tax numbers:
August 2017: $782,697
August 2018: $792,685
August 2019: $909,638
August 2020: $1,185,575
August 2021: $1,448,333
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector