Sales tax collections, one measure of retail activity, continue to increase on a year-over-year basis in Mesa County.

The county collected nearly $3.6 million in sales taxes in March, an increase of $185,047 and 5.4 percent over the same month a year ago. March tax collections reflect February sales.

Mesa County collected more than $2 million in taxes on retail sales in March, a 5.1 percent increase over a year ago. Tax collections increased on a year-over-year basis in each of eight categories, including a $28,000 gain in collections on the sale of general merchandise.

The county collected almost $1.5 million in taxes on sales in other industry categories, up 5.9 percent from a year ago. Gains in the auto repair, hotel and restaurant and manufacturing categories more than offset declines in the oil and natural gas, telecommunications and wholesale categories.

Through the first first of 2024, Mesa County collected nearly $11.8 million in sales taxes, a 3.1 percent increase over the first quarter of 2023.

Mesa County collected nearly $4.5 million in additional sales taxes distributed back to cities and towns in the county, including almost $2.6 million to Grand Junction, nearly $811,000 to Fruita and more than $567,000 to Palisade.

Tax collections on retail sales rose 2.8 percent to almost $7 million with the biggest year-over-year gains in the home improvement, general merchandise and clothing categories.

Tax collections for other industries rose 3.7 percent to nearly $4.8 million. The biggest year-over-year gains occurred in the hotel and restaurant, rentals and wholesale categories.

Use tax collections — nearly all of them on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county — totaled $405,807 in March. That’s a 22.3 percent gain over the same month a year ago.

For the first quarter of 2024, Mesa County collected more than $1.1 million in use taxes. That’s an increase of 19.2 percent over the first quarter 2023.