Bed tax sets record
June 17, 2019 - Visitors to Pinellas County brought in $6.7 million in tourist development taxes in April, an 11 percent year-over-year increase, according to Visit St. Pete Clearwater. There’s been $38.6 million collected in tourist development taxes between the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 and the end of April, a 5.1 percent gain over the prior year. The tourist development tax, also called a bed tax, is a 6 percent tax collected on accommodations in Pinellas County rented for less than six month. Proceeds fund tourism marketing programs, as well as beach nourishment, construction on stadiums and museums, and reserves to be used in the event of an emergency.