FONDA - Rising gasoline prices and aggressive retail development have meant higher sales tax revenue for Montgomery County and nearly all its towns and villages.
The county collected $6.38 million in sales tax during the first quarter of 2012, compared to $5.68 million in the same period of 2011 and $5.6 million for the first quarter of 2010, according to a report issued by the county treasurer's office. The county retained $3.67 million of that total and distributed the rest to the city of Amsterdam, the 10 towns and 10 villages in the county.
Fulton County's sales tax revenue also rose during the same period, from $4.03 million in 2011 to $4.19 million in 2011.
The only municipality realizing less sales tax revenue in the first quarter of 2012 than the first quarter of 2011 was the portion of the village of Fort Plain located in the town of Palatine.
Minden Supervisor Thomas Quackenbush said the rise in sales tax revenue is good news for Montgomery County and its municipalities.
"It gives us a little extra boost," he said. "It's promising. Hopefully it's a sign of good things to come."
Fact Box
On the rise
Montgomery County collected $6.38 million in sales tax during the first quarter of 2012. The county retained $3.67 million of that total and distributed the rest as follows:
City of Amsterdam, $1.004 million, up from $893,935.76 in the first quarter of 2011;
Towns
Amsterdam, $316,080.63, up from $276,375.87;
Canajoharie, $96,920.58, up from $82,625.87;
Charleston, $81,901.13, up from $76,306.60;
Florida, $183,793.82, up from $165,434.11;
Glen, $107,576.66, up from $96,483.01;
Minden, $102,777.39, up from $86,440.80;
Mohawk, $185,730.54. up from $168,710.41;
Palatine, $89,949.60, up from $81,666;
Root, $99,022.92, up from $90,328.64;
St. Johnsville, $42,197.84, up from $36,303.60.
Villages
Fort Johnson, $15,625.39, up from $13,459.18;
Hagaman, $57,319.13, up from $50,611.51;
Ames, $5,949.25, up from $$5,217.41;
Canajoharie, $92,604.05, up from $80,053.35;
Fort Plain, $64,803.02, up from $56,638.07;
Fultonville, $31,404.06, up from $28,619.82
Fonda, $27,172.46, up from $25,734.85;
Nelliston, $24,808.90, up from $22,831.18;
Palatine Bridge, $40,537.57, up from $37,254.35;
St. Johnsville, $39,785.96, up from $35,921.04.
Source: Montgomery County Treasurer's Office
Even though nobody likes to pay high gasoline prices, the sales-tax from gasoline purchases helps the county, officials said.
"Every time fuel prices go up, the county benefits," Charleston Supervisor Shayne T. Walters, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, said Friday evening.
Walters also passed along a compliment to the county's largest town.
"The town of Amsterdam is doing [the county] a great benefit," Walters said. "People are shopping in the stores on Route 30. People are spending money. Whether it holds on through the summer remains to be seen."
Amsterdam Town Supervisor Thomas DiMezza said the town has invested in infrastructure and development.
"We do get sales tax from rising gasoline prices, but I attribute a lot of [the sales-tax increase] to retail development. We've never had a Kohl's before and we've never had a Target before."
DiMezza was referring to two national department store chains; Kohl's is based in Wisconsin and Target is based in Minnesota. Both chains now have locations in the Amsterdam Commons; Target opened in 2008 and Kohl's in September 2011.
The Amsterdam Commons has seen the opening of GameStop, Moe's Southwest Grill, Supercuts, PetSmart and Verizon Wireless within the past two years as well.
John R. Becker covers Montgomery County news. He can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.