Tax collections, one measure of sales activity, continue to increase on a year-over-year basis in Mesa County.

The county collected more than $4.2 million in sales taxes in June, a 10.1 percent increase over what was collected for the same month a year ago. 

The county also collected more than $411,000 in use taxes in June — nearly all of that on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county. That was a 13.4 percent gain over the same month last year.

June tax reports reflect May sales.

Mesa County tax collections on retail sales topped $2.5 million in June, up 8.8 percent from the same month last year. Collections increased 16.9 percent on home improvements, 9.3 percent on automobiles and  7.9 percent on general merchandise

Sales tax collections also increased on a year-over-year basis in June in the construction, hotel and restaurant, manufacturing and telecommunications categories.

Through the first half of 2022, Mesa County collected nearly $23.4 million in sales taxes. That’s an increase of more than $2.3 million and 11.4 percent over the first half of 2021.

The county collected almost $2.2 million in use taxes through the first half of 2022, a 15.5 percent gain over the first half of 2021.

Year-to-date tax collections on retail sales exceeded $14.2 million, a 6.8 percent increase fueled by gains in seven of eight categories. They included an 11 percent increase in home improvements,
5.8 percent increase in general merchandise and 5.6 percent gain in automobiles. Collections on food and beverages edged down a tenth of a percent.

Year-to-date sales tax collections also increased in all but one of the other industry categories, including an 18.7 percent gain in the wholesale category, 15.5 percent gain in the manufacturing category and 11.5 percent gain in the hotel and restaurant category. Collections decreased 15 percent in the finance category.