Sales tax collections, a key measure of retail activity, continue to increase in Grand Junction.

The City of Grand Junction reported collecting nearly $5.5 million in sales taxes in April. That’s an increase of more than $1.7 million and 47.2 percent over the same month last year, although collections a year ago were affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

April collections reflect March sales.

The city reported collecting another $81,607 in use taxes, a smaller and more volatile revenue source. That’s an increase of more than $5,000 and 6.6 percent over the same month a year ago.

Through the first four months of 2021, the city collected a total of more than $21.2 million in sales and use taxes. That’s an increase of nearly $2.8 million and
15 percent over the same span in 2020. Sales tax collections rose 17.1 percent, more than offsetting a 23.8 percent drop in use tax collections.

City lodging tax collections, a measure of hotel and motel stays in Grand Junction, also increased in April.

The city collected $109,776 in lodging taxes, a gain of $38,616 and 54.3 percent over the same month last year. The comparison is affected, though, by the pandemic in 2020.

Through the first four months of 2021, the city collected $313,746 in lodging taxes. That’s a decline of $4,971 and 1.6 percent compared to the same span in 2020.

Lodging tax collections are divided among Visit Grand Junction, a city department that markets the area for travel and tourism, as well as the Grand Junction Regional Air Service Alliance and Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission.