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The $40,187 reported in sales tax revenues to the La Conner Town Council for March by the state’s Department of Revenue is the second highest ever, only behind 2022’s record $44,210. It exceeds $40,000 for only the second time and is 20% above 2021, the third highest March report.

The Special Use Fire Tax Revenues also dipped from 2022, by $314, 7.4%, below $4,000, barely, to $3,924, but still the second highest ever March total.

Tourists still stayed overnight, creating record revenues for the Town’s hotel/motel tax, $8,083, the highest March total by $384, almost 5% over 2022.

The real estate excise tax to date is $17,000, 31.8% below last year’s 3-month $43,467 in a very different real estate environment. Similarly, year to date property taxes collected are $3,910, a smidgen of the almost $80,000 for the 2022 first quarter. Don’t seek comparisons for these revenue streams until the year is almost over, given the very different economic environment.

Sewer, wastewater and compost operations revenues are between 26% and 28% of the year’s budget after the first quarter, signs that they may exceed revenue projections, given future quarter revenue growth. Not enough information is available to track expense trends for these programs

First quarter totals show steady revenue streams against 2023 budget projections.

Totals are based on January collections from town businesses and online purchases delivered to La Conner addresses and reported to town council by the state’s Department of Revenue.

La Conner has a calendar fiscal year.