County finance director reports August sales tax receipts below plan, second payment slightly over plan

Carrie Gallagher, commissioner of finance, told the Ways and Means Committee that the county’s second sales-tax payment for August arrived about $136,000 over plan but that overall August receipts were 8.67% below plan, a shortfall of about $2.3 million. She said year-to-date collections are 5.32% under plan, or roughly $8.4 million.

Gallagher said several factors may be contributing to weakness in receipts, including weather patterns and higher prices that have depressed consumption. “The foot traffic is strong. However, the consumption is not what it used to be at this time last year,” Gallagher said, and she cited reports that prices remain about 3% higher than a year earlier. She said retail foot traffic for back-to-school season could help close the gap but called the $8 million-plus shortfall a “big hurdle to fill.”

Andrea Dempannon, deputy commissioner of finance, joined Gallagher for the update. Committee members asked whether specific retail categories were driving the decline; Gallagher said she had heard retailers report strong foot traffic but smaller basket sizes. The committee’s discussion did not include a formal action; the sales-tax update was presented for information.