That’s a lot of mattress money.
The county collected $4,282,499 for tourist development, or “bed tax,” revenue in March, compared to $3,169,991 in March 2021, according to a May 2 Manatee County Tax Collector’s office report.
The figure represents the county’s highest bed tax earnings in a single month to date.
The 35% year-over-year revenue uptick for the March tax — a 5% levy collected on overnight rentals of six months or less — is the high-water mark of a yearlong trend.
Since March 2021, resort tax revenue has been higher in each month than the previous year.
Halfway through the 2022 fiscal year, the county has collected $14,774,653 in bed tax revenue, up from $10,235,264 through March of last year.
On the island, Holmes Beach’s March tourist development tax earnings — $1,339,528 — dwarfed those of Anna Maria — $366,237 — and Bradenton Beach — $286,504.
The island municipalities generated about 47% of the countywide total.
More March statistics:
- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $1,509,881 or 35.26%,
- Longboat Key generated $408,795 or 9.55%,
- Bradenton generated $358,689 or 8.38%,
- Palmetto generated $12,834å or 0.3%.
The tax collector retains a 3% administrative fee, leaving the county’s net bed tax revenue for March at $4,154,024.
The Manatee County Tourist Development Council provides resort tax revenue spending recommendations to the county commission.
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, a nonprofit dedicated to developing downtown 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.
April bed tax revenue data will be released in early June.
The next TDC meeting will be 9 a.m. Monday, June 20, at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Know your TDCs
In addition to making resort tax spending recommendations, the TDC — a nine-member volunteer group comprising elected officials, hospitality property owners and citizens involved in the tourism industry — advises the county board on tourist development projects.
Members include County Commissioner Misty Servia, who serves as chair, as well as Vernon DeSear, Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jack Rynerson, Jiten Patel and Rahul Patel.
March tourist tax collections:
March 2018: $2,434,673
March 2019: $2,725,570
March 2020: $1,782,570
March 2021: $3,169,991
March 2022: $4,282,499
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector