Resort tax collections up 24 percent in March

Resort tax collections in Whitefish were up a whopping 24 percent in March compared to last year, making it the best March on record since 2008.

Collections from the 2 percent tax for the month added up to $125,720, an increase of $24,077 over last year. Restaurants and retail saw an increase of 13 and 10 percent, respectively. Lodging was up 8 percent.

Year-to-date, more than $1.5 million has been collected in fiscal year 2013, which ends in July.

The resort tax is generally used as an indicator of how local businesses have fared in a particular month or year.

Collections are used for street reconstruction and property-tax rebates for city residents. Five percent is used for parks and the remaining 5 percent for administration.