Town tax receipts up, budget for year golden

Up again. Not a record, but the $65,603 in October sales tax revenue reported to the La Conner Town Council by the state Department of Revenue is the highest monthly collection in 2023 and topped only by four record setting months last year. This is the third month in a row that sales tax revenues are above $60,000, with totals increasing monthly The $528,778 collected to date is 86.8% of the total forecast for the year when the budget was set. It seems likely that the revenue target of $609,191 will be met if tourists continue coming.

The $24,762 in hotel/motel tax revenues is the second highest October total ever. Collections are at 122% of annual projections and may top $200,000 in 2023.

The $6,524 collected for the firetruck sales tax brings the year’s totals 105% of the year’s revenue estimates with two months to go. As always, collection tracks the sales tax.

The $7,544 in REET (Real Estate Excise Tax) revenue also pushes that total over 100% of projected collections.. Property taxes, at $6,802, are 90% below last October’s. The total is only 58% of the year’s projection.

Revenues from the three wastewater operations funds contribute 63.8% of the town’s income this year and will exceed 2023 budget projections. Of the $197,902 received in October, over half, $102,620, is from compost fees and sales. Sewer revenues, $65.8066 is a third. Expenses for those two funds are less than half budgeted, with two months left this year.

The town’s 14 program funds total 5,123,968 in revenue, 90% of the year’s projected total. Once again revenues will exceed the budget’s forecast while expenditures will be less than expected.

These totals are based on August collection from town stores and online purchases delivered to La Conner addresses and reported to town council from the state’s Department of Revenue.

Town council held its first 2024 budget discussions Tuesday. They intend to pass a budget at their Dec. 13 meeting.

La Conner has a calendar fiscal year.