Did the Fourth fizzle?
Tourist development tax collections in Manatee County dropped off in July compared with July 2022.
The county tax collector’s office reported earlier this month that the tax revenues — the 5% tax levied on rentals of six months or less — for July were $2,697,210.13. That’s a drop of 3.71% from July 2022, when the county gleaned $2,800,988.
July was the only month in the fiscal year in which tax dollars dropped compared with the year prior.
With two months remaining in fiscal 2022-23 — spanning October 2022 to September 2023 — the county has earned $27,733,808 in tourist tax revenue and is still on track to top a total of $30 million.
Holmes Beach accommodations in July produced $865,409 in tourist development tax dollars or 32.08% of the county’s total earnings.
Only unincorporated Manatee County accommodations yielded more than Holmes Beach, with $915,513 in collections or 33.94% of the revenue pie.
Anna Maria produced $310,656 or 11.52% and Bradenton Beach brought in $136,513 or 5.06%, while Longboat Key garnered $247,492 or 9.18%.
Bradenton earned $217,796 or 8.07% and Palmetto netted $3,928 or 0.15%.
After a 3% administrative fee, the county’s net tourist tax revenue for July was $2,616,293.
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 resort 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 Anna Maria Island Historical Society; the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Bradenton Area Convention Center; Realize Bradenton and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
August resort tax revenue data will be released in early October.
The next TDC meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
About the TDC
The Manatee County Tourist Development Council recommends to county commissioners how to spend the tourist development tax — the 5% tax collected on overnight rentals of six months or less.
TDT spending must boost and develop tourism.
TDC members include County Commissioner James Satcher as chair, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, Palmetto Mayor Shirley Bryant, hoteliers Jiten Patel, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns and Rahul Patel and interested citizens Dave Wick and Norma Kennedy.
July tourist tax collections:
July 2019: $1,398,555
July 2020: $1,620,700
July 2021: $2,764,559
July 2022: $2,800,988
July 2023: $2,697,210
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector
