Lee tourist tax collections jump

FORT MYERS — Lee County's tourism growth fueled a 7.9% jump in tourist taxes collected in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 compared with the same period one year ago.

The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau reports that taxes on tourists staying in paid accommodations totaled $28.6 million this fiscal year. That's 7.9% more than the $26.5 million they collected a year ago and nearly 30.9% more than the $22.7 million collected two years ago.

Tourist taxes pay for marketing the area, beach maintenance and baseball spring training complexes for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.