Sales tax off to sluggish start in 2014

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Revenue falls 7% in first two months

ALBION – Orleans County’s sales tax revenues are down 6.9 percent for the first two months of the year, resulting in $141,356 in less tax revenue compared to January and February numbers in 2013.

The county uses the sales tax to help fund local services and to reduce pressure on property taxes.

While Orleans is down, state-wide the numbers are up slightly from $3.958 billion to $3.981 billion for the two months, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

Orleans County took in $14.82 million in sales tax in 2013. The county was one of 14 in the state that saw a decrease in sales tax revenue in 2013. In Orleans, the sales tax dipped by 0.56 percent or $82,873, falling from $14,902,778 in 2012 to $14,819,904 last year.

County officials this year budgeted for a tiny increase, $25,000. But so far the county is off that pace, receiving $2,051,872 in January and February, compared to $2,193,228 during those months in 2013.