Leon County Reports Highest February Tourist Development Tax Collections on Record
Record $821,622 in February bed tax revenue reflects a growing visitor economy that supports local jobs and businesses
Leon County's tourist development tax collections for February 2026 reached $821,622, the highest February total in county history and a 24 percent increase over the same month last year. The record, reported by the Leon County Tax Collector's office earlier this month, caps a February in which visitors spent $19.6 million on hotel and short-term rental stays, also a February record.
The tourist development tax is a 5 percent levy on short-term lodging that funds tourism marketing, cultural grants, sports event recruitment and visitor infrastructure. Such programs generated an estimated $1.43 billion in local economic impact and supported more than 12,000 jobs last year. The revenue complements the County's broader economic development investments without drawing on property tax dollars.
"Record collections aren't just a line on a spreadsheet; they represent real jobs, real paychecks and real investment flowing into Leon County because visitors are choosing to come here," Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban said. "That's economic development funded by visitors, not property taxpayers."
February collections have nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from roughly $331,000 in February 2015 to $821,622 this year. The month's record is part of a broader trajectory: the County posted record annual tourist development tax collections in fiscal year 2025, with overall economic impact growing 8.4 percent and surpassing the County's five-year Bold Goal of $5 billion one year ahead of schedule. Even the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove February 2021 collections down 45 percent, proved only a temporary setback — the County surpassed pre-pandemic levels by fiscal year 2022 and has posted year-over-year growth every year since.
"This record is the direct result of the County’s sustained investment in our tourism marketing and the nearly 120 local events we support through our grant programs each year," Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long said. "When our tourism economy grows, every Leon County resident benefits."
February’s strong performance comes ahead of the spring season, typically among the strongest collection periods of the year, driven by legislative session visitors, Springtime Tallahassee and spring sporting events .
"February’s tax collections highlight the sustained appeal of Tallahassee-Leon County as a premier destination for travelers seeking unique experiences," said Kerri L. Post, director of Leon County Tourism. "These positive figures underscore the strength of our local tourism economy and the effectiveness of our collaborative marketing efforts to showcase the community’s depth and charm."
Bed tax revenue funds programs that benefit residents and visitors alike. In the current grant cycle, the Tourist Development Council awarded $794,800 to support nearly 120 local special, legacy, art and cultural, and sporting events . The tax also funds tourism marketing through the Leon County Division of Tourism/Visit Tallahassee and cultural programming through the Council on Culture and Arts. Last year, Leon County welcomed nearly 2.6 million visitors who collectively supported more than 12,000 local jobs.
Tourist development tax reports are prepared monthly by the Leon County Tax Collector and reviewed by the Tourist Development Council. To learn more about the Leon County Division of Tourism, visit VisitTallahassee.com or LeonCountyFL.gov/Tourism. For more information, contact Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 or CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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