According to data released by Archuleta County Finance Director Chad Eaton late last week, sales tax collections in Archuleta County for September were reported to be down 6.23 percent compared to figures from September 2025.
Eaton’s report notes that the 6.23 percent decrease translates to a total of $110,798.84 less received this September compared to September 2025.
For this September, Eaton notes that the Town of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County received a total of $1,666,842.82 from the sales tax and retail marijuana sales tax,with $836,789.28 going to the county and $836,832.96 going to the town.
Sales tax collections have been a mixed bag in 2026, with most months reflecting a decrease when compared to the previous year.
January saw a decrease of 10.64 percent ($149,587.01) in sales tax collections, while numbers for February reflected a 1.17 percent increase ($16,020.75). March figures reflected a 1.01 percent ($15,560.32) decrease, while numbers for April reflected a 9.07 percent decrease ($125,110.70). May figures also showed a decrease of .48 percent ($6,553.63). June figures showed a 1.63 percent ($28,804) increase, and July figures showed a 1.12 percent ($21,331.76) decrease. August figures also reflected a decrease of 2.85 percent ($47,627.53).
According to Eaton’s data, a total of $13,846,477.25 in sales tax has been collected so far this year.
Categories that were up in the month-to-month comparison according to Eaton’s data include:
• Construction at 17.16 percent, or $5,486.73.
• Manufacturing at 72.62 percent, or $48,003.94.
• Finance and Insurance at 66.09 percent, or $1,568.76.
• Real Estate, Rental and Leasing at 28.3 percent, or $8,408.28.
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services at 2.66 percent, or $396.60.
• Other Services (except Public Administration) at 20.42 percent, or $5,544.28.
Categories that were down in the month-to-month comparison include:
• Retail Trade at 13.16 percent, or $132,470.15.
• Information at 15.52 percent, or $5,267.93.
• Accommodation and Food Services at 11.58 percent, or $39,306.87.
• Miscellaneous at 1.40 percent, or $3,162.48.
According to data in Eaton’s press release, the year-to-date comparison for January through September shows the town and county are down 3.02 percent, or $431,834.77 less than the same timeframe last year.
Categories that were up in comparison to year-to-date comparison according to Eaton’s data include:
• Finance and Insurance at 40.56 percent, or $7,273.60.
• Real Estate, Rental and Leasing at 12.7 percent, or $33,738.90.
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services at 19.13 percent, or $20,101.17.
Categories that were down in the year-to-date comparison include:
• Construction at 25.25 percent, or $69,457.20.
• Manufacturing at 7.74 percent, or $51,685.27.
• Retail Trade at 1.52 percent, or $116,421.96.
• Information at 5.58 percent, or $14,421.79.
• Accommodation and Food Service at 6.16 percent, or $173,961.82.
• Other Services (except Public Administration) at 2.84 percent, or $6,814.12.
• Miscellaneous at 3.01 percent, or $60,186.28.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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