Local sales tax collections in New York state increased by 3% in November compared to the same month in 2023, according to data released Tuesday by state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.86 billion for the month, up $53 million year-over-year, with New York City accounting for 61.5% of the increase.
“Local sales tax growth in November was a bit stronger compared to the 1.9% year-to-date increase,” DiNapoli said. “New York City’s collections continue to drive statewide growth, accounting for a majority of the overall increase. Still, monthly collections are subject to volatility, and local officials should take this into consideration when budgeting for future sales tax revenue.”
The positive trend didn’t hold in Chenango County, where sales tax collections dropped 11.3%, from $2.74 million to $2.43 million. Delaware County experienced a smaller drop in collections, down 4.1%, from $2.51 million to $2.41 million. Otsego County did better than those two neighbors, increasing collections by 4.1%, from $3.76 million to $3.91 million.
Schoharie County was the big winner locally, increasing collections by 23.2%, from $1.65 million to $2.03 million.
Highlights of DiNapoil’s report for November include:
• New York City’s collections totaled $848 million, an increase of 4% compared to the same time last year.
• County and city collections in the rest of the state totaled $903 million, an increase of 1.8%.
• 61% (35 of 57) of counties experienced year-over-year increases.
Monthly sales tax collections are the cash distributions made to counties and sales tax-imposing cities by the state Department of Taxation and Finance. The amounts are based on estimates of what each municipality is due. In the third month of each calendar-year quarter, the distributions are adjusted upward or downward, so that the quarter as a whole reflects reported sales by vendors, according to the release.