County sales tax receipts remain strong

Ozaukee County sales tax receipts continued to ring up record revenue in June, according to just-released figures from the state Department of Revenue.

According to DOR figures, county sales tax collections exceeded $1.16 million in June and $6.02 million so far for the year, compared to less than $1.14 million in June 2024 and $348,234 ahead of the first six months last year.

The county is still slightly behind the pace to achieve its budgeted goal of $12.23 million for 2025, but sales typically increase beginning in the summer and end the year with a bang as the holiday season takes over.

Last year, the county collected nearly $12.2 million, an increase of 11%, or $470,000, over 2023’s then-record collections of $11.73 million.

Last year’s sales tax collections also outpaced the county’s budgeted expectation of $11.68 million with the help of the second and third-best months in the 35-year history of the sales tax, collecting more than $1.28 million in August and November, trailing only December 2023 when the county collected $1.43 million.

The county collects a half penny in sales tax on every taxable dollar spent in the county. The county receives 97.75% of that money with the state getting 1.75% and retailers keeping 0.5%.

Reporting of sales tax collections lag two months behind the actual sales month, so the June figure isn’t known until August.

The county initiated a 0.5% sales tax in July 1991 to pay for the bonding used to construct the Justice Center in Port Washington. It was made permanent in 1999, with the County Board requiring it to be used as revenue to offset the property tax levy.

According to the state Department of Revenue, from 1991 through 1998, the sales tax generated almost $27.24 million for the Justice Center.

Since 1999, the sales tax has generated about $194 million, with that money going into the county general fund.