Orange County, FL Resort Tax Collections Down

ORLANDO, FL, Mar. 2, 2009 -- County Comptroller Martha Haynie announced today that resort tax collections received by the County in February for the hotel collection month of January 2009 were $12,760,200.

Resort taxes are charged on short-term rentals, mostly hotels and
motels.

Comptroller Haynie noted that January 2009 collections were ten percent lower than January 2008.

“We know the tourism industry is not immune from the general economic downturn, and a ten percent decline certainly shows that a lot of businesses, and their employees, are hurting.

"But we can still hope that the quality of our convention and vacation products will cushion this sector from the worst of the recession,” Haynie added.

Contact: Martha O. Haynie, (407) 836-5690