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

Mesa County reported collecting more than $4 million in sales tax in July, a  20.4 percent increase over the same month last year.

The county also collected nearly $401,000 in use taxes — almost all of it on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county. That’s a 19.1 percent increase over last year.

July collections reflect June sales.

For Mesa County, combined sales and use tax collections were up more than $755,000 and 20.3 percent over the same month a year ago.

Tax collections on retail sales topped $1.38 million, a 14.2 percent increase over a year ago. Collections rose in nearly every category, including a 68.3 percent increase in health and personal care products and 22.4 percent increase in clothing. Internet sales rose 21.9 percent.

Sales tax collections also increased on a year-over-year basis 57.7 percent on construction materials, 40.8 percent on restaurant meals and hotel stays and
22.9 percent on home improvements. 

Through the first seven months of 2021, Mesa County collected a total of nearly $27.5 million in sales and use taxes. That’s an increase of nearly $5.2 million and
23.2 percent over the same span in 2020. Sales tax collections rose 21.8 percent. Use tax collections jumped 41.1 percent.

County tax collections on retail sales exceeded $9 million through the first seven months of 2021. Tax collections on internet sales rose 67.6 percent to more than
$1.7 million. Collections rose 48.8 percent on clothing and 41.8 percent on health and personal care products.

Sales tax collections rose 36.2 percent on construction materials 34.3 percent on home improvements and 33.5 percent on restaurant meals and hotel stays. Collections declined 49 percent in the oil and natural gas category.