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The $41,561 in sales tax revenue reported for January to the La Conner Town Council was the second highest for that month ever, only exceeded by 2021’s $52,155. Receipts for January topped $40,000, also only for the second time, as tourists continue to make the town a preferred destination. The total is 8.4%, one-twelfth of the budgeted $492,303 for the year. That portends a strong 2022 sales tax revenue collection, as January has historically been one of the three lowest collection months, followed by March and April. These totals are based on November’s collections from town businesses and online purchases, a two month lag in funds turned over by the state’s Department of Revenue.

Even better news comes with the $10,501 reported for the town’s hotel/motel tax revenue. That is the highest January total ever, 12% above 2020’s previous high. The total is also 8% of the $132,450 budgeted for the year.

The fire truck sales tax revenue was also the second highest January collection ever at $4,109, also only the second time above $4,000. It is 9% of the year’s $45,501 budgeted, another sign of potential high tourist sales in 2022.

The town’s two REET taxes (real estate excise tax, the tax on the sale of real property) each took in $19,231, both 48% of their annual $40,000 budgets. These are unprecedented totals; as little as $2,550 has been collected, as in January 2019.

La Conner has a calendar fiscal year.