Sales tax collections, one measure of retail activity, held steady in July in Mesa County. But year-to-date collections for 2024 continue to outpace those for 2023.

The county collected more than $4.4 million in sales taxes in July. That was a decrease of $1,103 and two-hundredths of a percent compared to the same month a year ago.

Mesa County collects a 2 percent sales tax divided between capital and general funds. Another portion is allocated to cities in the county. July collections reflect June sales.

Through the first seven months of 2024, the county collected nearly $29 million in sales taxes. That was an increase of  more than $600,000 and 2.1 percent over the same span in 2023.

Mesa County collected almost $11 million it distributed back to cities and towns in the county, including nearly $6.4 million to Grand Junction, almost $2 million to Fruita, just about $1.4 million to Palisade and $598,000 each to Collbran and De Beque.

Use tax collections — most of them on sales of automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county — topped $404,000 in July. That’s an increase of $66, 612 and 20 percent over the same month a year ago.

Through the first seven months of 2024, Mesa County collected nearly $2.7 million in use taxes. That was an increase of  almost $157,000 and 6.2 percent over the same period in 2023.