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

The county collected more than $4.4 million in sales taxes in July, an 8.4 percent increase over what was collected during the same month last year.

The county also collected nearly $340,000 in use taxes in July — nearly all of that on automobiles purchases outside the county, but used in the county. That was a 15.4 percent drop from the same month last year.

July tax reports reflect June sales.

Sales, use and lodging tax reports for the City of Grand Junction weren’t available as of press deadline.

Mesa County tax collections on retail sales in July topped $2.5 million, a 6.5 percent increase over the same month last year. Collections increased on a year-over-year basis in six of eight retail categories — including a 15.1 percent gain on automobile sales, 6.6 percent gain on general merchandise and 3.6 percent gain on home improvements.

For other industry categories, sales tax collections rose 5.1 percent in the hotel and restaurant category, 25.5 percent in construction, 12.7 percent in manufacturing and 12.4 percent in the wholesale category.

Through the first seven months of 2022, Mesa County collected more than $27.8 million in sales taxes. That’s an increase of almost $2.7 million and 10.6 percent over the same span in 2021.

Mesa County earmarks half of the collections from its 2 percent sales tax for a capital fund — more than $19 million so far in 2022. 

The county divides the remaining half of collections between its general fund and what it distributes back to five cities in the county. Through the first seven months of 2022, the county has collected more than $8.6 million for its general fund and has distributed a total of more than $10.5 million to the cities.

The county collected more than $2.5 million in use taxes through the first seven months of 2022. That’s a gain of more than $232,000 and 10.1 percent from the same span in 2021.

Year-to-date tax collections on retail sales reached nearly $16.8 million, a gain of more than $1 million and 6.8 percent over last year. The increase reflected gains in seven retail categories, the largest for home improvements, general merchandise and automobiles.

Year-to-date sales tax collections also increased for all but one industry category with the biggest gains in the hotel and restaurant, wholesale, telecommunications and manufacturing categories. Tax collections declined in the finance category.