A key measure of sales activity continues to increase in Mesa County.

The county reported a 15.3 percent increase in sales and use tax collections in November compared to the same month a year ago. November collections reflect October sales.

As of press deadline, the City of Grand Junction hadn’t yet posted its latest tax report on its website.

Mesa County collected a total of more than $4.2 million in sales and use taxes, an increase of nearly $558,000 compared to November 2020. Sales tax collections rose
15.8 percent. Use tax collections — most on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county — rose 10.6 percent.

Tax collections on retail sales totaled more than $1.35 million, a year-over-year increase of 17 percent. Collections on internet sales rose 18.2 percent.

Sales tax collections increased 18.4 percent on home improvements and 13.7 percent on restaurant meals and hotel stays. Collections slipped 1.1 percent on automobiles.

Through the first 11 months of 2021, the county collected a total of nearly $44.5 million in sales and use taxes. That was an increase of more than $7.5 million and 20.5 percent over the same span in 2020. Sales tax collections rose 19.9 percent. Use tax collections increased 26.9 percent.

Year-to-date collections rose 19.1 percent on retail sales to nearly $14.4 million. Collections on internet sales rose 29 percent to more than $2.6 million.

Sales tax collections rose 28.7 percent on home improvements as well as restaurant meals and hotel stays.