Tax collections continue to increase in the Grand Valley, an indicator of increased sales activity.

The City of Grand Junction reported an 11.1 percent increase in sales and use tax collections in September compared to the same month last year. Mesa County reported at slightly larger proportional gain at 11.4 percent. September collections reflect August sales.

Lodging taxes, a measure of hotel and motel stays, advanced 4.6 percent in Grand Junction.

Sales tax collections have increased on a year-over-year basis for six consecutive months for the city and seven straight months for the county.

The City of Grand Junction collected a total of nearly $4.6 million in sales and use taxes in September. That’s an increase of almost $460,000 over the same month last year. Sales tax collections rose 9.8 percent. Use tax collections, a smaller and more volatile portion of revenue, rose 19.5 percent on increased activity in the energy and construction industries.

Mesa County collected a total of more than $3.1 million in sales and use taxes in September. That’s an increase of nearly $318,000 over the same month last year. Sales tax collections rose 8.6 percent on increased sales in not only the retail sector, but also the home improvement, oil and natural gas and manufacturing sectors. Use tax collections jumped 38.7 percent on the increased sales of automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county.

The latest numbers bring year-to-date sales and use tax collections for the city to more than $39.2 million. That’s an increase of more than $2.1 million and 5.7 percent over the same span last year. Sales tax collections increased 5.1 percent, while use tax collections were up 26.8 percent. Tax collections have outpaced the adopted budget for 2017 by 5.4 percent.

For Mesa County, year-to-date sales and use tax collections totaled nearly $24.7 million. That’s an increase of more than $1.5 million and 6.7 percent over the same span last year. Both sales and use tax collections were up 6.7 percent. Tax revenues have topped what initially was budgeted by 5.6 percent.

Lodging tax collections, a measure of business in the hospitality sector, totaled $$160,099 for Grand Junction in September. That’s an increase of $7,038 and 4.6 percent over the same month last year. September collections reflect hotel and motel stays in August.

At slightly more than $1 million, year-to-date lodging tax collections for 2017 exceeded what was collected for the same span in 2016 by $22,923 and 2.1 percent.