Mesa County sales tax collections slip for May, but still up for 2023

Mesa County sales tax collections slipped on a year-over-year basis in May for Mesa County with declines in the retail sector as well as other industry sectors.

Sales and lodging tax collections increased in Grand Junction during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same span in 2022.

Mesa County collected more than $4 million in sales taxes in May, a decrease of eight-tenths of a percent compared to the same month a year ago.

May collections reflect April sales.

The county collected more than $2.3 million in taxes on retail sales in May, a drop of 3.1 percent from the same month last year. Decreases in tax collections on general merchandise, clothing and automobiles more than offset gains in other categories.

Total tax collections in other industries rose 2.6 percent with gains in the hotel and restaurant, utilities and wholesale sectors more than offsetting losses in construction, manufacturing and transportation sectors.

County use tax collections — nearly all of it on automobiles purchases outside the county, but used in the county — neared $431,000. That’s a year-over-year increase of 7.8 percent.

Through the first five months of 2023, the county collected more than $19.5 million in sales taxes. That’s a gain of 2 percent over the same span in 2023.

Tax collections on retail sales totaled nearly $11.5 million, a decline of 1.8 percent. Tax collections increased in the hotel and restaurant and wholesale sectors, but decreased in the telecommunications sector.

Use tax collections through the first five months of 2023 topped $1.8 million, a 3.3 percent increase over the same span in 2022.

The City of Grand Junction collected more than $14.3 million in sales and use taxes in the first quarter of 2023, including the more than $2.6 million it received as its share of county sales tax. The total was more than $652,000 and 5 percent more than what was collected during the first quarter of 2022.

City sales tax collections rose for almost every business classification, with the biggest proportional gains in business-to-business and food services and drinking places as well as clothing, shoes and jewelry retailers. Tax collections fell for building materials, garden equipment and supplies as well as furniture, electronics and appliances.

The city collected nearly $614,000 in lodging taxes on hotel and motel stays during the first quarter of 2023. That’s an increase of almost $35,000 and 6 percent from the first quarter of 2022.