Ring, ring, ring.
The first tourist tax collections reported for the 2021-22 fiscal year registered a 51% increase over the prior year.
The Manatee County Tax Collector’s office released October collection numbers for the county tourist tax, also known as the resort or bed tax — the 5% tax collected on overnight rentals of six months or less.
The first month of the 2021-22 fiscal year showed $1,437,374 collected. In 2020-21, the same month’s collections totaled $954,681.99.
Holmes Beach topped collections on Anna Maria Island, generating $375,187, about 26.10%.
Anna Maria accounted for about 13.43% of the collections, bringing in $193,062, and Bradenton Beach generated $87,342 or 6.08%.
Some other numbers for October:
- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $532,997 or 37.08%.
- Bradenton generated $128,876 or 8.97%;
- Longboat Key generated $116,520 or 8.11%;
- Palmetto generated $3,428 or 0.24%;
The collection fee or commission on the tax is 3%, so the net collection for the Manatee County Tourist Development Council in October was $1,394,253.
According to state law, resort tax revenues must be used to boost and develop tourism, including funding for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Bradenton Area Convention Center and tourism-related entities such as Realize Bradenton and the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as supporting projects, such as island beach renourishment and construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.
The TDC recommends how to spend the money to the county commission.
The November numbers will be released in early January.
October tourist tax collections
October 2017: $720,607
October 2018: $694,834
October 2019: $807,356
October 2020: $954,682
October 2021: $1,437,374
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector