Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties show strong second-quarter sales tax returns

On the backs of a strong Canadian dollar and high gasoline prices, north country counties had higher sales-tax returns for the second quarter of 2011 than 2010.

“This is the second large spike we’ve seen this year,” St. Lawrence County Treasurer Kevin M. Felt said. “We’d love to see it continue.”

From April through June, the county took in $10.3 million in sales tax, a 4.77 percent increase over the same period last year.

Mr. Felt attributed the increased spending partially to Canadians coming to border towns to buy groceries and less-expensive gasoline than what is available in their country.

“I go to the parking lots and look around and see a lot of Canadian license plates,” he said. “I think that’s a big help.”

Gasoline purchases by north country residents also contributed to the sales tax hike.

“I don’t believe people are driving a lot less,” Mr. Felt said. “Around here, people have to drive to work.”

Despite a poor economy, residents might also have decided a path to recovery is in sight and made purchases they previously had put off, Mr. Felt said.

Since January, sales tax collected in the county was $20,138,899.60. For the same period in 2010, the take was $19,035,725.71.

The additional $1,103,173.89 puts the county on track to reach its budget projections or slightly exceed them, Mr. Felt said.

The county keeps half of the money and distributes the remainder to municipalities.

Lewis County brought in $23,678, or 1.0 percent, more than the $2,397,321 received in the second quarter of 2010.

That more than offsets a $4,381 drop in the first quarter of 2011.

“It’s not fantastic, but it’s steady,” said County Treasurer Patricia L. O’Brien.

Lewis County’s 2011 budget anticipates $9 million in sales tax revenue.

Through the first two quarters, the county has passed the halfway mark, collecting $4,714,146.

With third- and fourth-quarter receipts typically higher than the first two, the county appears likely to meet or exceed budget, Mrs. O’Brien said.

“We’re pretty much on target,” she said.

Jefferson County’s $16.7 million was a $414,131, or 2.5 percent, increase over 2010 receipts for the second quarter, which totaled $16,293,278.

New Treasurer Karen M. Christie agreed with the assumptions of Mrs. O’Brien and Mr. Felt.

But she’s not sure if that trend will continue through the rest of the year. So far this year the county’s share is $14,988,229.69, which is $285,766 ahead of 2010 revenue.

In 2010, county sales tax revenue totaled just under $31 million, the figure it budgeted for the 2011 year.

“If you’re paying more for gas and household items, are you going to go out and buy big-ticket items?” she said. “A lot depends on Fort Drum — if a lot of soldiers come back and start pouring money into the economy, or their families are here, it’s good for us.”