Manatee County businesses that collect the tourist development tax brought in $1.64 million in February, according to information provided by Manatee County Tax Collector Ken Burton Jr.
That’s up 8 percent from $1.52 million a year earlier.
Through five months of this fiscal year, the county has collected $5.68 million, an increase of 10 percent over the previous cycle, when $5.16 million was collected from Oct. 1 of 2016 to Feb. 29 of 2017.
As usual, Holmes Beach businesses led the way in tourist tax collections for February, contributing $302,000, followed by Anna Maria, which contributed $206,000, and Bradenton Beach, which contributed $137,000.
However, those totals reflect significant decreases in collections in the three island cities, compared to a year ago.
In February 2017, Holmes Beach collected 14 percent more, $346,000; Anna Maria collected 10 percent more, $186,000; and Bradenton Beach collected 10 percent more, $126,000.
Meanwhile, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, which makes recommendations on the expenditure of tourist tax funds to the Manatee County Commission, was scheduled to meet April 15 at Holmes Beach City Hall.
On tap for discussion were updates regarding the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau public relations, facilities management and a state of tourism update by Walter Klages of Research Data Services.