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Bolstered by strong showings in February, March and April - not to mention an unexpected, weather-induced rally in September - Citrus County's short-term lodging industry enjoyed another year of steady growth in 1998-99.

The key indicator is the county's tourist tax, a 2 percent charge on overnight and other short-term lodging places.

Although not all tourists stay in hotels, motels and lodges - and not all people who stay in such places are necessarily tourists - the amount of tax revenue collected is viewed as a reasonably good barometer of visitor traffic.

During the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, Citrus collected $ 247,458 in tax revenue, which is 5 percent more than it collected the previous year, recently released figures showed.

"I'm thrilled," said Mary Craven, the county's tourist/business facilitator, during an interview Wednesday. "It's been a tough year nationwide."

Indeed, it was a tough year in Citrus County during the first third of the fiscal year. Revenue was down, especially in December, when unusually warm weather was keeping manatees - and the people who come to see them - at less-than-optimum numbers.

February, March and April usually are good months for the local tourist industry, and 1999 was no exception. Tax revenues have been increasing significantly, even compared with previous years.

September, traditionally a slow month locally, was slow again. But East Coast residents fleeing Hurricane Floyd packed hotel and motel rooms, providing an unexpected revenue spike for a few days, if not the entire month.

Craven said that, overall, the weather and some storm threats hampered tourist traffic at various points of the year.

The Tourist Development Council uses the tax money to pay for marketing and advertising designed to bring even more people here. The recent trend: trying to persuade in-state residents to visit, particularly during the summer.