ERIE COUNTY 2021 SALES TAX RECEIPTS SHOW AN ECONOMY STILL STRUGGLING

January numbers down; region’s economic health still at risk  

(ERIE COUNTY, NY) – The Office of Erie County Comptroller has released sales tax numbers for January and February 2021.  Receipts show the western New York economy, along with area businesses, are still working to recover from a challenging year due to COVID-19.  The Office of New York State Comptroller notified Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw that January sales tax revenue is down 12.24% from this time last year.  In total, the county share sales tax revenue year-to-date, ending February, 2021 totaled $80,325,448.

While data shows Erie County sales tax revenue is up 1.94% on a year-to-date basis, with February sales tax numbers up 13.12%, it is important to note that February is a reconciliation month, and therefore is not indicative of the February economy.

 “We must work to get our economy back open.  Small businesses have suffered enough.  The COVID restrictions still in place have and can continue to do irreparable harm to the backbone of our community,” said Comptroller Mychajliw.

 January, 2021 sales tax revenue was down $4,253,645 from the same period last year.  February, which was a reconciliation month, saw sales tax revenue up 13.12%, or $5,788,682.

 “We need to be mindful of the various factors that are not only stunting the growth of our economy in Erie County, but doing significant damage.  We have to let small businesses, that employ so many of our neighbors and friends, open back up so that we can return the region to normalcy, get paychecks back in people’s pockets, and give business owners the support they need to allow our economy to recover,” concluded Comptroller Mychajliw.

 The Erie County Comptroller’s Office will continue to regularly update the Erie County Legislature on sales tax revenue figures for Erie County in order to provide lawmakers with the latest information on the region’s economic outlook.  This will allow them to hopefully make informed decisions on what is best for the region going forward.

For pdf of release, click HERE

For pdf of letter sent to legislature, click HERE