April’s tourist development tax dollars climbed 12.72% compared with April 2024’s collection in Manatee County, but the tax also increased.
The 2025 collection for April was $3,286,678 compared with the $2,915,794 collected last April, which was down from April 2023.
The tourist tax, also known as the bed tax or resort tax, is the 6% collected on overnight rentals of six months or less. County voters elected to raise the tax by 1% last November, with the hike taking effect in January.
High season for tourism usually coincides with spring break from area schools and as well as Easter. This year, early spring breaks were in March but the cycle continued into April and Easter arrived late, April 20.
The April tax revenues were gathered by the county tax collector’s office from accommodations agents throughout May and then reported June 2.
Some details for April:
- Holmes Beach’s accommodations generated $814,966 or 24.8%. Last year’s April brought in $800,053;
- Anna Maria’s accommodations generated $540,676 or 16.45%. The numbers last year were $419,643 or 14.39%;
- Bradenton Beach’s accommodations generated $109,202 or 3.32%. Last year, the tax generated $136,217;
- Longboat Key generated $269,453 or 8.2%;
- Bradenton, $269,509 or 8.2%;
- Palmetto, $74,507 or 2.27%.
Unincorporated Manatee County accommodations generated the largest share of the tax revenues — $1,208,377 or 36.77%.
After the tax collector’s 3% administrative fee, the county’s net revenue for April was $3,188,077.
The revenues do not go back to the cities where they were generated but instead are spent at the county level, as determined by the county commission on the advice of the tourist development council.
Revenue must be used to bolster tourism, according to state law.
Tourism-related institutions that receive resort tax funding include the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bradenton Area Convention Center, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Realize Bradenton.
Tourism-related projects that have been funded by the tax include island beach renourishment and the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.
May bed tax revenue data will be released in early July.
The TDC will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 16 at the Center of Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria.
April tourist tax collections:
April 2020: $449,905
April 2021: $2,423,608
April 2022: $3,108,553
April 2023: $3,227,222
April 2024: $2,915,794
April 2025: $3,286,678
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector