Forget the lamb.
Tourism came in like a lion in March and roared through the month.
Manatee County collected $4,647,968 in tourist development tax revenue for March, compared to $4,282,499 in March 2022 and $3,169,991 in March 2021, according to a May 1 report from the county tax collector’s office.
It more than doubled the $2.725M collected in 2019.
The 8.53% year-over-year revenue uptick for the March tax — a 5% levy collected on overnight rentals of six months or less — continues a long trend of increases after the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.
Halfway through the 2022-23 fiscal year, the county has collected $16,888,946 in bed tax revenue.
On the island, Holmes Beach’s March tourist development tax earnings reached $1,267,249 — 27.26% of the total for the county.
In Bradenton Beach, the revenue was $270.101 or 5.81% of the total.
In Anna Maria, the revenue was $459,625 or 9.89% of the total.
Some other stats:
- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $1,822,610 or 39.21%,
- Longboat Key generated $406,560 or 8.75%;
- Bradenton generated $407,041 or 8.76%;
- Palmetto generated $14,927 or 0.32%.
The tax collector retains a 3% administrative fee, leaving the county’s net bed tax revenue for March at $4,508,528.
The Manatee County Tourist Development Council is the advisory board that recommends how to spend resort tax revenue.
The county commission decides the expenditures.
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 5, at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Know your TDCs
In addition to making revenue spending recommendations, the TDC — a volunteer group comprising elected officials, hospitality owners and citizens involved in the tourism industry — advises the county on tourist development projects.
Members of the TDC include County Commissioner James Satcher, chairman; Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown; Ed Chiles, Eric Cairns, Jiten Patel, Rahul Patel, Dave Wick and Norma Kennedy.
March tourist tax collections
March 2019: $2,725,570
March 2020: $1,782,570
March 2021: $3,169,991
March 2022: $4,282,499
March 2023: $4,647,968
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector