Resort tax rebounds for July

After a sluggish start to summer,

Whitefish’s resort tax numbers rebounded in a big way in July. City

Finance Director Rich Knapp reports that collections were up 5.1

percent over last July.

“July is the largest and therefore the

most important month and this is the best July since 2008,” Knapp

reports.

Bars and restaurants saw the largest

gains, Knapp said. The sector reports a 9.3 percent gain in

collections over last year, accounting for more than $90,000.

Lodging was up 2.9 percent at $56,106 and retail was up 2.1 percent

at $100,325.

All told, $246,642 in collections were

reported. The record July of 2008 saw nearly $300,000 in

collections.

The rebound comes after the worst June

since 2007. Only $185,838 was collected in June, down 4 percent.

City Manager Chuck Stearns said the delayed opening of Glacier

National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road impacted resort tax

collections.

Some businesses have told the Pilot

that this July was one of their best ever. They say it’s possibly

due to tourists delaying their vacations until the Sun Road opened,

as opposed to outright canceling the vacation.

Despite the down June, Resort Tax

collections for fiscal year 2011 closed at the end of the month up

by 8.7 percent compared to fiscal year 2010. More than $1.67

million was collected, ending a two-year slide from a high set in

2008.

The biggest gains in 2011 came from

bars and restaurants, which finished 15.5 percent better than 2010.

Lodging was up 12 percent and retail was up 2.4 percent.