The new Walmart store has only been collecting sales tax since late April, but the effect is becoming more and more undeniable.
Even considering a continuation of the anomalous collections of back taxes from 2013 and 2014, June of 2015 showed a significant increase in sales tax collection compared to the same month last year, according to a report issued this week by Archuleta County Finance Director Larry Walton.
The total sales tax collection for June 2015 was $827,027.09, with the town’s portion being $413,513.55. All sales tax generated within the county, regardless of whether it comes from a business within the town limits of Pagosa Springs or not, is split evenly between the town and county.
Although Walton’s report only contains data back to 2004, it is more than likely this is the first month in the entire history of Archuleta County where more than $800,000 worth of sales tax was collected. Only $6,700 of June’s total came from back taxes.
“On a ‘year to date’ basis (January thru June), 2015 sales tax is $625,245 (19.7%) ahead of 2014,” Walton reported. “However, about 1/3 of this increase (about $226,000) is really just collection of back taxes, mostly from 2014 and 2013.”
Walton’s report then broke the anomalous collections from this year down by month: $98,000 for January, $62,500 for February, $30,000 for March, $11,000 for April, $17,000 for May and $6,700 for June.
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