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County finance director: sales tax flat year-to-date but February dip warrants monitoring
Summary
Dickinson County finance director reported sales tax collections largely flat for the year but noted a more than 5% drop in February (received in April); staff will provide rolling budget binders and department numbers as personnel discussions begin in June.
Marcus Rothchild, assistant county administrator and finance director, briefed the commission on sales tax collections and the county budget schedule.
Rothchild said overall sales tax revenue for the year remained approximately flat but that February collections — remitted in April — were down “a little over 5% compared to last year at this time,” which he said warranted monitoring to determine whether the drop represented a timing issue or an ongoing trend. He noted that consumer uncertainty tied to national tariff discussions could make some households more conservative in larger purchases and said the county will watch collections over the next two months before concluding if a trend exists.
Rothchild described the composition of sales tax drivers, saying online purchases have become a growing share over the last five to ten years and that automotive and grocery remain large drivers of local sales tax. He said limited confidential vendor‑level data is available to staff and that he can produce summarized analyses for commissioners without disclosing confidential submitter details.
On the budget schedule, Rothchild said department heads are meeting to update line‑item notes, and that commissioners will receive a first draft of binders with last year’s budget, 2024 actuals and year‑to‑date spending next week. He said personnel discussions with commissioners are expected in early June and that clearer budget figures should be available by July, which county staff said makes an August start for other programs (for example, a grant portal) feasible.
Commissioners asked whether particular industries had driven recent swings; Rothchild said larger purchases such as automotive sales and online vendors are material components but that monthly timing and reporting schedules can make single‑month comparisons misleading. No formal action was taken.
