Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance Revenue topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Port Orchard finance staff report mixed revenue: sales tax down, REIT receipts strong
Summary
City finance staff reported a third consecutive month of year-over-year declines in sales tax receipts while real estate excise tax (REIT) collections were well above prior-year levels and budget, and staff pledged a full monthly budget report and fund-balance details.
Port Orchard finance staff told the finance committee on April 15 that sales tax receipts were slightly lower year over year for the third straight month, while real estate excise tax (REIT) collections came in well above prior-year levels and budget.
Noah Crocker, City finance staff, presented the revenue update and said “it looks like we were slightly down again for the third straight month on sales tax revenue” and that “the budget's still positive, though.” Crocker also reported a strong month for REIT receipts, saying, “We actually had a very good month for REIT, actually, 58%… 67% above what we had collected in the prior first quarter of 2024.”
The finance staff said the March close is in progress and that a full monthly budget report — including final fund balances — would be circulated the next day. Crocker told the committee the city’s overall fund balances appear healthy and that he would follow up on specific line items requested by members.
Committee members asked about a $62,000 charge shown in the criminal justice fund summary and lodging-tax timing. Crocker said he would follow up on the $62,000 entry (the committee discussed it as likely related to criminal-justice technology or annual subscriptions such as body cameras) and confirmed lodging-tax revenues are reported monthly and are shown on the packet as Fund 107.
Mayor Rob Pitonsi and other members noted Port Orchard hotels receive a sizable share of business from local Navy Yard contract workers and that international travel appears not to drive local lodging-tax receipts. Crocker said he would examine seasonality and report any patterns to the committee.
Next steps: staff will circulate the completed monthly budget report and fund-balance figures, provide a December 2024 sales-tax sheet requested by a committee member, and arrange a brief lookback at 2024 revenue results within the next two weeks.
