Sales tax collection up

PRESCOTT – According to information from the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, the sales tax passed for the jail has brought in more to date than it did this time last year.

According to the figures, $1,734,525.56 has been brought in by the end of July, while in 2019, the amount was $1,195,991.85. Last year the tax brought in an average of $170,855.98 per month, while for 2019 it’s been bringing in $247,789.37 a month. March and July were the biggest months for the tax with $290,045.80 coming in for March and $266,942.87 in July.

So far, every month this month has seen sales tax in excess of $200,00 generated with January being the low month at $221,877.42.

Gas stations are generating a large portion of the taxes with July seeing $29,602.06 brought in. Next is electricity, followed by water and sewage, with other general merchandise fourth and grocery stores fifth. The other category, which is less than three businesses, brought in a combined $74,478.50 last month.

Overall, those shopping in Prescott pay 9.5 percent in sales tax, while county shoppers pay 8.5 percent. The state sales tax is 6.5 percent with the county having a two-cent sales tax with the city a one cent tax.