Tourist tax dollars were way up in March.
After a slight dip in February, March saw the best bed tax collection in Manatee County history, as tax revenue totaled $3,169,991, a 77.81% increase over 2020’s $1,782,752.
The tax is 5% on rentals of six months or less collected by the government. The March revenues were reported May 3 by the Manatee County Tax Collector.
Of the $1,551,232 collected by the island’s three cities in March, the Manatee County Tax Collector’s report shows $885,538, or 27.93%, was collected in Holmes Beach.
Anna Maria rentals generated $440,541, or 13.9%, and the $225,153 collected from Bradenton Beach was 7.1% of the total take for the county.
The island continued to generate the most bed tax dollars for the county in March.
Some more numbers for March:
- Unincorporated Manatee County, $1,008,679, 31.82%;
- Bradenton, $251,652, 7.94%;
- Longboat Key, $348,305, 10.99%;
- Palmetto, $10,162, 0.32%.
March yielded a net collection of $3,074,891 after the state’s 3% commission.
Tourism has been stronger in the county than in many other areas of the state, as well as many parts of the nation for a variety of reasons.
With much of the European and Canadian markets still limiting travel to the United States, the island’s visitors mostly came from Florida and a 700-mile drive market for the first eight months since the state’s phased reopening began.
But as was the case with the booking and trip lengths, the origin states for visitors steadily expanded in 2021, Anne Wittine of Research Data Services Inc. reported April 19 to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council.
This year also saw more airlines extending seasonal routes and the addition of Southwest Airlines to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, meaning more travelers can access the area.
The April numbers will be released in early June.
Both March and April’s numbers will be discussed at the next TDC meeting, set for 9 a.m. Monday, June 21, at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
About the TDC
The TDC makes recommendations to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners regarding the operation of projects in the tourist development plan and how tourist development tax revenue may be spent.
The TDC includes chair Misty Servia, a county commissioner, vice chair Vernon DeSear, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jack Rynerson, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.
For more information about the TDC, contact Monica Luff at 941-729-9177 or monica.luff@bacvb.com.
March tourist tax revenues
March 2017: $1,968,698
March 2018: $2,434,673
March 2019: $2,725,570
March 2020: $1,782,752
March 2021: $3,169,991
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector