Ketchum city sales tax on purchases made in July show the construction industry continues to be strong.
Local option tax receipts for August, which account for the previous month's purchases, total $227,150. That number represents a 2.55 percent increase over the August 2004 figure of $221,512.
But condo receipts are off more than 17 percent. August receipts are $9,379, almost $2,000 less than those of August 2004. For the year, condo receipts are off 11.24 percent.
Room receipts are down 3.2 percent for the year, but August's figures show a 4 percent gain, or $18,144 over August 2004 totals. That is the biggest percentage increase for room receipts this fiscal year.
Liquor receipts showed a modest gain from last August—just three-quarters of a percent—for a total of $21,038 for the month.
Building materials were up 6.6 percent, adding $40,915 to the city's coffers. Year-to-date building materials total $377,158. Year-to-date figures for 2004 were 14 percent lower, or $331,884.
Other retail receipts amounted to $137,674, posting a 3.16 percent increase over last August.
"Building materials are our shining star here," Ketchum City Administrator Ron LeBlanc said. "But as an absolute value, the $41,000 we got is small compared to other retail."
LeBlanc said lower numbers in one category often translate into lower numbers in another.
"One (number) creates the other, so to speak," he said. "If people aren't coming here renting rooms, then they're not spending money on food and (other items)."
Fiscal year totals collected so far equal $1,844,326, a 3.88 percent increase from last year at this time.
The city has budgeted $1,933,726 for this fiscal year.
Ketchum's local option taxes account for nearly 25 percent of the city's annual revenue.
