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Winter sales tax slide continues

Greg Masse
Post Independent Staff

GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” Sales tax revenues slid here in February, the fourth month in a row of revenue declines.

February’s revenues were down 4.9 percent compared with February 2003.

In actual dollars, the city received $34,136 less in February 2004 sales tax revenue than in the same month in 2003. Total February 2004 revenues were $665,065.



“It’s better than we expected,” city manager Mike Copp said. “But you hate to say that because it’s down.”

Through February, the city is down 6 percent for the year, so Copp figures it could be worse.



“We projected a 10 percent decrease in sales tax numbers. I don’t want to say it’s good, but it’s better than expected,” Copp said.

City department heads were asked in February to make a contingency plan for their departments in case sales tax revenues fall by 10 percent.

Total sales tax collections for the year to date are $1.3 million, compared with $1.4 million for the first two months of 2003.

Since Super Wal-Mart opened in Rifle last Oct. 29, Glenwood Springs has gone through its toughest four months in recent history for sales tax revenues.

In November and December 2003, revenues were down 11 percent compared with the year prior, and January 2004 was down more than 7 percent.

In March, City Council decided to use landfill reserve funds during the next two years to keep city services operating at present levels.

After that, city officials hope the opening of Lowe’s and Target stores at Glenwood Meadows will offset the losses.

“We’re going to stick with our game plan,” Copp said.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com


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