Tax collections, a measure of retail sales, continue to increase in Mesa County.

Mesa County collected $4.3 million in sales taxes in January, a 19.7 percent increase over the same month last year.

Use tax collections — most on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county — rose 16.1 percent on a year-over-year basis in January to $347,939.

January tax reports reflect sales in December as well as a portion of holiday spending.

Out of total sales tax collections in January, Mesa County allocated nearly $3 million for its capital found and more than $1.3 million for its general fund.

Mesa County also allocates a portion of sales tax collections to cities in the county — a total of more than $1.6 million in January. Of that, $950,000 went to Grand Junction, nearly $300,000 to Fruita and $207,000 to Palisade.

Mesa County collected $1.8 million in tax on retail sales in January, a 14.5 percent increase over the same month last year. Tax collections rose in every category except for food and beverages.

Tax collections rose 4.1 percent on a year-over-year basis on internet sales to $336,092.

County sales tax collections rose a total of 23.9 percent for other industry categories. Collections increased 33.1 percent on hotel stays and restaurant meals, 17.8 percent on home improvements and 8.8 percent on automobiles.

Collections rose 42.3 percent in the telecommunications category, 31.3 percent in the construction category and 13.5 percent in the oil and natural gas category.

For all of 2021, Mesa County collected a total of nearly $48.5 million in sales and use taxes, a 20.8 percent increase over 2020.