Local sales tax collections in New York state grew by 3% in July compared to the same month in 2022, according to an analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.82 billion, up $53.3 million compared to the same time last year.

“Local sales tax growth in July continued at a moderate pace, similar to growth rates from before the pandemic,” DiNapoli said. “This may be slower than some local officials anticipated after two years of more robust growth, making careful cash flow monitoring especially important.”

For July 2023 compared with July 2022:

• New York City’s collections totaled $777 million, an increase of 0.2%, or $1.4 million.
• County and city collections in the rest of the state totaled $935 million, an increase of 5%.
• Nearly all (54 out of 57) counties experienced some year-over-year increase.
• Lewis County experienced the strongest growth at 28.1%.
• Orleans County had the largest decline at 12.1%.

These monthly sales tax collections are from the cash distributions made to counties and tax-imposing cities by the state Department of Taxation and Finance, and the amounts are based on estimates of what each municipality is due. In the third month of each calendar year quarter, these distributions are adjusted upward or downward, so that the quarter as a whole reflects reported sales by vendors. The next quarterly numbers (for July to September) will be available in October.

Table
Monthly Local Sales Tax Collections by County and Region