JAMESTOWN – Sales tax collections in Chautauqua County was down five percent last month.
That’s according to statistics released by the New York State Comptroller’s Office.
Overall, the county collected $5.2 million down from $5.5 million in January 2020.
Statewide tax revenue collected by local governments was down 5.9 percent compared to a similar period last year.
Collections were down $95 billion from the year prior, though less than the 8.4 percent drop in December and the double-digit declines of the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Analysis say the news is a sign the economy is still stuck in neutral as the pandemic continues to grind on.
Sales tax is vital for local governments as a revenue source used to offset tax increases elsewhere in their budgets, such as the property tax.
The state is seeking billions of dollars in federal aid to recoup some of the lost revenue.
Leave a Reply