Lodging tax revenues for February are up and down compared to last year

Lodging tax revenues for the second month of 2012 were down from February of last year county-wide. According to the latest report from the Cook County Auditor-Treasurer’s office, the February totals were down 5.5 percent across the board for reporting tourism organizations.

Lutsen-Tofte revenues were down 7.2 percent from last February.  Grand Marais revenues were down 4.3 percent from this time last year. However, the Gunflint Trail revenues for February were up 5.1 percent.

The Auditor’s office emphasizes that not all businesses report taxes at the same time each year and revenues are an “apples-to-apples comparison.” That means only businesses which reported lodging tax revenues both in February of this year and last year are included in the monthly accounting.

*Overall, the county’s lodging tax revenues have rebounded from the recession. 2011 figures are up overall from 2010. Although January and February of 2012 are down when compared to the same months last year, revenues are up from Feb. 2011 to Feb. 2012 over Feb. 2010 to Feb. 2011.

*point of clarification added on 3/29/2012