Dane County Reports Better Than Expected Sales Tax Collections

February 18, 2011
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606
County Executive

                      

February Collection 38% Higher than a Year Ago

 

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today the county’s sales tax collection for the month of February was up 38.25% from the same month a year ago. 

 

Over the past year, collections have run more than $1.6 million higher than the county conservatively budgeted. 

 

“This is a bit of well-timed good budget news that shows the county is in an improving fiscal position and our local economy is gradually bouncing back,” Falk said. 

 

“Because we prepared for the worst, the strengthening local economy should give our county the ability to help offset some of the state cuts to services like plowing our roads during blizzards and getting kids out of abusive homes,” Falk said.  “As we look to the release of the Governor’s budget, it would be unfair for the Governor to penalize Dane County for our careful budgeting by slashing state funds for necessary services.”

 

Falk and the county board budgeted conservatively during the recession and achieved millions in savings for taxpayers by respectfully negotiating salary cuts of 5% and health care benefit concessions of $1-million a year with its nine employee unions.  The county has also made cautious projections of revenue, and made additional cost-cutting measures like the consolidation of county departments.

 

The 2011 county budget was built on the projection the county would see little improvement in sales tax collection from last year. 

 

(See memo attached)

 

###