The city’s preliminary sales tax report for October shows a 4.17% increase in revenue compared to the same month last year, putting year-to-date collections roughly 1.8% higher than 2023 returns through October.

When comparing this October to the same month last year, the notable changes in collections by category are in Construction at 15.25%; Marijuana at -10.20%; and Sporting Goods at -14.08%.

Accommodations tax collections came in 7.17% higher compared to October 2023, pushing year-to-date collections in the category roughly 6% higher compared to the first 10 months last year.

Finance Director Kim Weber said earlier this year the city expects to see tax revenue increase by roughly 2% this year compared to 2023.

Short-term rental taxes collected by the city in October came in 4.4% higher than the same month last year. Year-to-date collections from short-term rentals in the city are 89.8% higher through October compared to the same time period in 2023.

This increase is linked to an exemption in 2023 where reservations booked on or prior to Dec. 31, 2022, for stays occurring Jan. 1-Oct. 15, 2023, were not subject to the city’s short-term rental tax.

The city saw a 23.7% drop in building use taxes collected in October compared to October 2023. The tax fluctuates based on the number of building permits issued, use-tax reconciliations completed and the size and number of developments in the city.

Yearly building-use tax collections through October are 96% higher compared to 2023 figures through the same time period.

“The main drivers of the increase in building-use tax are the increase in commercial buildings and multi-residential building permits. The valuation for these two categories is almost 60% higher than the prior year. These include projects such as the Holiday Inn Express, Amble, Riverview and Central Park Project,” said Finance Director Kim Weber last month.

“In summary, most all permit types increased from 2023, plus we had several large commercial permits issued in 2024,” she added.