Visitors snug in Manatee County beds generated $2,309,508 in tourism tax bucks in December 2023.
The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office on Feb. 1 released December 2023 collection numbers for the tourist development tax — resort or bed tax — the 5% tax collected on overnight accommodations of six months or less.
The third month of the 2023-24 fiscal year generated $2,309,508 in bed tax revenues in the county.
The amount is down 10.26% compared to the $2,573,631 generated in December 2022.
Holmes Beach topped collections on Anna Maria Island in December, generating $497,782, about 21.55% of the countywide total.
Anna Maria accounted for about 11.15% of the collections, bringing in $257,715, and Bradenton Beach generated $112,482 or 4.87%.
The tax is collected by resort owners, landlords and property managers of accommodations leased for six months or less.
Some other numbers for December:
- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $1,018,614 or 44.09%;
- Bradenton generated $244,141 or 10.57%;
- Longboat Key generated $171,222 or 7.41%;
- Palmetto generated $8,426 or 0.36%.
The collection fee on the tax is 3%, so the net collection for December 2023 was $2,240,222.
Collections for the first quarter of the fiscal year total $5.4 million.
Tax revenues must be used to boost 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 beach renourishment and construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.
The county tourist development council recommends how to spend the money.
December tourist tax collections
December 2019: $1,177,171
December 2020: $1,414,742
December 2021: $1,996,281
December 2022: $2,573,631
December 2023: $2,309,508
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector