Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — Whitman County saw a 56% increase in July sales tax over the same month last year.
The state sales tax distribution will be $99,000 more than the same period in 2019, for a total of $274,252 going to the county’s general fund.
“It’s a nice surprise. It’s better than what we were fearing,” said Art Swannack, county commissioner. “On average, we’re about on par. I thought we might be down $500,000 when it looked like no WSU students may be coming back.”
The July 2020 total is a 28% increase over June.
“Because people are not traveling, they are shopping locally or online, so we get the benefits,” said Chris Nelson, county treasurer. “This really is a spike.”
Nelson noted that July is a big construction month; yet, it is not necessarily a higher tax revenue month than June.
She indicated the county is “in the black” for this year, something counties in more populated areas of the state may not be able to say with less people from elsewhere coming in and sending money.
“The less traveling, people going to Spokane or to the valley to shop, has been a detriment to the big cities,” Nelson said. “It’s a good thing to be rural.”
The county’s general fund – which sales tax revenue supports — includes public safety, public health, courts and elections.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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