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Comptroller: Local sales tax collection in WNY rose 3.1% in 2017

Posted at 4:49 PM, Jan 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-29 16:51:08-05

Local sales tax collection in Western New York accelerated in 2017, according to a report released Monday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Collections across Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties grew by $30.4 million, or 3.1 percent, from 2016.

The two Western New York cities that also impose their own general sales tax on goods and services -- Salamanca and Olean -- experienced increases in year-over-year collections. In fact, Salamanca had the strongest growth of the 17 cities in New York State (excluding New York City) that have the additional tax.

Statewide, local sales tax collection rose by nearly 4 percent in 2017. That marks the highest year-over-year growth since 2013.

The report lists the factors that may have influenced the increase as improved consumer confidence and stronger, though still modest, wage growth.