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A VERY GOOD YEAR Crowded tables at The Hub Baja Grill on Siesta Key on Nov. 7 were emblematic of Siesta Village restaurants that evening. Photo by Rachel Hackney THANKS TO THE ARTS, SPORTS TOURISM AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES, THE COUNTY'S TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUE BREAKS ANOTHER RECORD IN FISCAL YEAR 2013 By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor This was one barely missed goal that had Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta smiling: Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenue for the county through the end of the 2013 fiscal year was up $858,897.22 over the FY 2012 total of $13,345,485.03. TDT pennies would bring in $3 million, for a grand total of $15 million for the fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30, he pointed out. Still, the result did not miss that mark by much. The number was $14,828,316.70. And as Deputy Chief Tax Collector Liz Klaber "This is great, great news," Barbetta said when explained recently to the News Leader, the contacted by The Sarasota News Leader tally could go up a bit, as entities that collect on Nov. 12, after the the tax make adjustnew numbers had ments over the next been posted on the This just shows that Sarasota is weeks to their records. Sarasota County Tax strong coming out of the recession. Virginia Haley, presiCollector's website. dent of Visit Sarasota Joe Barbetta Commissioner Commissioners had County — the counSarasota County hoped each of the five ty's tourism office