Summer Town tax receipts were hot

The $66,648 in Town of La Conner sales tax revenue reported for October continued the year’s record setting trend. This was the fourth month above $66,000, driving the year-to-date total to $573,848, 16.6% and $81,545 above annual projections with two months left. The year’s total will almost certainly top $675,000. The 2022 budget estimated sales tax revenues of $492,303.

Revenues from all tax sources are over $5 million and 99% of the annual projections, led by the sales tax, REET – real estate excise taxes – and public works street program revenues. All expenditures are at 67% of budget, well below the forecasted expenses

The $24,803 in hotel/motel tax revenues is the highest October total ever. Collections are at 121% of annual projections and may top $190,000 in 2022.

The $6,659 collected for the firetruck sales tax was also a record. Totals are at 125.4% of the year’s revenue estimates.

These totals are based on August collections from town stores and online purchases delivered to La Conner addresses and reported to town council from the state’s Department of Revenue. Tourists have flocked to town through the summer, apparently unaffected by national economic news of inflation and interest rate hikes.

Town council held its first 2023 budget discussions Tuesday. They intend to pass a budget at their Dec. 14 meeting.

La Conner has a calendar fiscal year.