Broomfield tax collections down 1.5%

BROOMFIELD – The city and county of Broomfield’s sales- and use-tax collections decreased 1.5 percent in March from the same period in 2011, according to the city finance department’s latest report.

Broomfield collected $3,113,685 in March, compared with $3,162,096 in March 2011, according to the report. The collections in March represent sales made in February.

Total sales- and use-tax collections for total general governmental revenue year-to-date increased 3.7 percent, compared with 2011, according to the report.

Use taxes associated with real estate growth – building permit fees and water and sewer license fees – all slowed in February, according to the report. Such use taxes are collected at the time the permits and licenses are issued, said Pat Soderberg, city finance director.

Most continue to show a year-to-date increase over the same period in 2011, however, the report said. Such tax revenue often is less predictable as to the month of the year because of the timing of approved construction projects, Soderberg said. The month of March – not officially reported yet – had increased fee and permit activity, for example, Soderberg said.

Building permit fee use-tax collection was down 40.6 percent in February from the same period in 2011. Water license fee use-tax collection was down 33.8 percent and sewer license fee use tax collection was up 39.6 percent from the same period the year before.