Resort Tax up in August

Resort Tax revenue in Whitefish was up

21 percent in August compared to last year, the city reports. That

amounts to a $49,476 increase. More than $280,000 was

collected.

August is typically the city’s second

largest Resort Tax collection month, although this year it outpaced

top-earning July by more than $35,000. Part of the increase is due

to a lodge paying for both July and August, city manager Chuck

Stearns notes, which inflated August’s final tally.

“Retail was up 25.95 percent in August,

however, so that is a strong showing,” Stearns wrote in his manager

report.

Retail brought in $106, 860, while

restaurants contributed $91,408. Lodging was at $85,621 for August

compared to $56,106 in July.

Year to date, the Resort Tax is up 13.1

percent over last year at $530,531. The two-month total is the

highest in the past five years.

More good news comes from the latest

Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau tourism promotion assesment

collections (TPA). TPA is the 1 percent funding from WCVB

restaurant and lodging members.

Collections were up 22 percent in

fiscal year 2011 compared to 2010. The fiscal year starts July 1.

TPA collections were up 14 percent for July and August 2011

compared to last year.

The Office of Tourism Bed Tax for the

third quarter will not be reported until December.