Tourism in March generated more than $6.4 million in bed tax revenue in Manatee County, up from February’s $3.9 million.
The county collected $6,402,337 in tourist development tax revenue for the month, compared with $5,396,781 in March 2025 and $5,303,173 in March 2024, according to a recent report from the county tax collector’s office.
March’s growth from 2025 to 2026 was 18.6% and collections for the month have doubled over the past five years.
The current tax is a 6% levy on overnight rentals of six months or less. The tax was raised in January 2025 from 5%.
Halfway through the October-September 2025-26 fiscal year, the county has collected $19,526,224 in tourist tax revenue. This is about 61% of fiscal 2024-25’s total, suggesting the county is on pace to meet or exceed last year’s revenue.
On the island, Holmes Beach’s March tourist development tax earnings reached $1,448,027 — 22.612% of the total for the county.
In Bradenton Beach, the revenue was $318,310 or 4.97% of the total.
In Anna Maria, the revenue was $974,220 or 15.22% of the total.
Some other stats:
- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $2,455,795 or 38.35%.
- Longboat Key generated $506,534 or 7.91%.
- Bradenton generated $570,110 or 8.9%.
- Palmetto generated $129,985 or 2.03%.
The tax collector retains a 3% administrative fee, leaving net March revenue of $6,210,267.
The Manatee County Tourist Development Council advises on how to spend resort tax revenue while the county commission decides the expenditures and a yearly budget.
By law, revenue must be used to bolster tourism.
Tourism-related institutions that receive resort taxes include the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bradenton Area Convention Center, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit dedicated to developing downtown Bradenton.
Tourism-related projects that have been funded by the tax include island beach renourishment, construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier and the Gulf Islands Ferry service between Bradenton and the island.
April bed tax data will be released in early June as collections of the money take place this month.
The TDC will meet next at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 15, at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
March tourist tax collections
March 2022: $4,282,499
March 2023: $4,647,968
March 2024: $5,303,173
March 2025: $5,396,781
March 2026: $6,402,337
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector