New numbers for the new year tell an old story.
Once upon time, Anna Maria Island was a sleepy destination but now tourists fill beds and tourism revenues sets records.
The Manatee County Tax Collector’s office released January 2022 collection numbers for the tourist development tax — the 5% bed tax collected on overnight rentals of six months or less.
The fourth month of the 2021-22 fiscal year generated $2,671,152 in tourist development tax in the county.
The amount is 49% more than the $1,797,602 generated in January 2021.
December’s numbers also were strong — $1,996,281 collected compared with $1,411,742 in December 2020.
Holmes Beach topped collections on Anna Maria Island in January, generating $852,012, about 31.89% of the countywide total.
Anna Maria accounted for about 8.44% of the collections, bringing in $225,567, and Bradenton Beach generated $136,989 or 5.13%.
Some other numbers for January:
- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $1,027,434 or 38.45%;
- Bradenton generated $184,406 or 6.9%;
- Longboat Key generated $238,053 or 8.9%;
- Palmetto generated $7,428 or 0.28%.
The collection fee or commission on the tax is 3%, so the net collection for the Manatee County Tourist Development Council in January was $2,591,734.
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 February numbers will be released in early April and the TDC will meet next at 9 a.m. Monday, April 18, at the county administration building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.