Lodging tax revenues for March are mixed

Lodging tax revenues for the third month of 2012 were relatively steady compared to March of last year county-wide. According to the latest report from the Cook County Auditor-Treasurer’s office, the year-to-date totals however, were down 4.4 percent across the board for reporting tourism organizations.

Lutsen-Tofte revenues were down 6.2 percent from last March and an improvement over February.  Grand Marais revenues were up 3.4 percent from this time last year. The Gunflint Trail revenues for March were up 1.3 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 March of this year and last year are included in the monthly accounting.