Tax collections, a measure of retail sales and lodging activity, continue to increase in Grand Junction

The City of Grand Junction reported a 7 percent increased in combined sales and use tax collections in May compared to the same month last year. Lodging tax collections rose 27.6 percent on a year-over-year basis. May collections reflect April activity. June reports weren’t available before press deadline.

The city collected more than $5.2 million in sales taxes and more than $107,000 in use taxes in May. Sales tax collections increased 6.9 percent. Use tax collections, a smaller and more volatile revenue source, rose 31.5 percent.

The city received another $900,000 as its share of sales taxes collected by Mesa County and distributed back to municipalities in the county.

The city also collected a total of more than $1 million in sales and use taxes allocated to public safety and first responders.

Through the first five months of 2022, the city collected a total of more than $30.5 million in sales and use taxes. Sales tax collections increased 11.9 percent compared to the same span in 2021. Use tax collections rose 65.9 percent.

The city received more than $4.1 million in sales tax collections from Mesa County and collected a total of more than $5.1 million in sales taxes earmarked for public safety and first responders.

The city collected more than $367,000 in lodging taxes in May, a 26.7 percent increase over the same month last year.

Through the first five months of 2022, the city collected nearly $1.5 million in lodging taxes. That’s a 58.4 percent gain over the same span in 2021.

Under a measure city voters approved in 2019 to double the lodging tax to 6 percent, the city divides revenues between Visit Grand Junction, the tourism and destination marketing organization, and Grand Junction Regional Air Alliance and Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission.