Erie County collects record sales tax amount

PERKINS TWP. — Cha-ching: Erie County officials collected a record amount of sales tax money in 2019.Shoppers purchasing taxable goods during the 12-month period collectively contributed about $16.3 million to county coffers.It's a good number for a few reasons:• The final figure surpassed last year's collection, $16 million, and the previous high, $16.1 million, occurring in 2017.• The amount also exceeded budgeted projections for 2019 at $16.2 million.Erie County commissioner Matt Old provided an educated guess as to why the 2019 final figure eclipsed previous year-end totals."The increase in revenue is due to two main factors," Old said. "The economy is doing better than we anticipated. This has led businesses and consumers to spend more. We have also seen big numbers at Cedar Point, Kalahari Resorts and our other tourist attractions."Those "other tourist attractions" would include Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center, according to Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo. Many travel teams from across North America visited the Sandusky-area outdoor complex, home to world-class amenities for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer, this past year."With Sports Force almost bringing 300,000 new visitors to our area last season, we are definitely seeing the economic impact there," Shenigo said.Sales tax money accounts for about half of Erie County's annual income injected into the $31 million everyday operating budget. These funds help cover costs for many services, such as judicial, sheriff and maintenance operations.In Erie County, the sales tax rate equals 6.75 percent. It's among the lowest rates when compared to Ohio's 88 counties.Erie County sales tax numbersRecent year-end collections:• 2019: $16.3 million• 2018: $16 million• 2017: $16.1 million• 2016: $15.9 million• 2015: $15.5 million• 2014: $14.4 millionNote: All figures roundedSource: Erie County finance departmentReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Shoppers pack into Fancy Me Boutique as it opens on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at The Marketplace at Cooke in downtown Sandusky. Throughout 2019 in Erie County, shoppers collectively contributed $16.3 million in sales tax income, the highest amount ever within a year.