Collections were down 4.09% from July which showed a 5.41% riseover June. From February through June, tourism tax percentage gainswere in the double digits and seemed headed for another recordrevenue year.

Hoteliers and tourist promoters attribute the August drop to atemporary soft construction market, higher gas prices and aconvention dates switch from August to October by the 20,000-memberMarine Manufacturers Association. Four of the six core CentralFlorida counties catering to tourism showed lower tax collectionsin August for the first time this year.

They were Orange County (Orlando) with $7.55 million in touristtax collections for a minus 5.03% from July; Osceola, $2.04million, down 0.90%; Volusia, $1.27 million, off 7.11%; andSeminole, $136,701, down 1.88%. The two counties showing gains wereBrevard, $372,194, up 8.88%; and Lake, $39,250, up 0.97%.