The county woke up on the right side of the “bed tax” in July.
Manatee County gleaned $2,800,988 from the tax, a 5% levy on overnight rentals of six months or less.
With two months remaining in its fiscal year — spanning October 2021 to September 2022 — the county has earned $25,513,353 in tourist tax revenue, approximately $5,296,478 more than its entire 2020-21 fiscal year.
July resort tax earnings represent the 17th consecutive month the county has earned more money than the same month in the preceding year.
Holmes Beach brought in $1,002,959 or 35.81% of the county’s total earnings, outperforming all other county entities.
Unincorporated Manatee County was a close second at $934,914 or 33.38% of the revenue pie.
Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach drew $256,412 or 9.15% and $164,606 or 5.88%, while Longboat Key garnered $243,877 or 8.71%.
Bradenton earned $193,1767 or 6.9% and Palmetto netted $5,194 or 0.19%.
After a 3% administrative fee, the county’s net tourist tax revenue for July was $2,716,958.
According to state law, resort tax earnings must be spent on tourism-bolstering initiatives.
The Manatee County Tourist Development Council advises the county commission on bed tax
spending and, in years past, earnings from the levy have financed beach renourishment projects and the construction of two new city piers, in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.
Other entities that have received tourist tax dollars include the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Bradenton Area Convention Center; Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit dedicated to developing downtown Bradenton, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
August resort tax revenue data will be released in early October.
The next TDC meeting will be 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
Know your TDCs
In addition to making revenue spending recommendations, the TDC — a nine-member volunteer group comprising elected officials, hospitality property owners and citizens involved in the tourism industry — advises the county board on tourist development projects.
Members of the TDC include County Commissioner Misty Servia, chairman, Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Dave Wick and Norma Kennedy.
July tourist tax collections:
July 2018: $1,308,818
July 2019: $1,398,555
July 2020: $1,620,700
July 2021: $2,764,559
July 2022: $2,800,988
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector
