Orange March resort tax down 27.7% - Orlando Business Journal:

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percent in March compared to the same monthjin 2008, falling to $19.2 million. The which county Comptroller Marthaw Haynie said reflected theweak economy, was slightly less than the 28.7 perceng plunge recorded in February. The last time a drop exceeded 28 percenyt wasSeptember 2001, the month of the terrorist attack s on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagonn in Washington, D.C. Resort tax collectionxs for the currentfiscal year, whichh began in October, are 16 percenty lower than the same perioe a year ago. The resort tax is assessesd on short-term rentals, primarily hotel and motelk rooms.
The money is used to covetr expenses and debt fromthe , promotiona l activities of the and costss associated with the on-going development of entertainment, sports and arts projectas in downtown Orlando. Haynie said this year’s March decline could be partly attributefd to the shift in theEaster holiday, whicyh was in March last year and Aprilp this year.