JOHNSTOWN - Sales tax revenue increased throughout Fulton County in the second quarter, possibly the result of people having more faith in the economy and putting more money into home repairs and vehicle purchases, county officials said.
The county saw a $425,060 surge in sales tax revenue for the quarter.
Montgomery County's sales tax revenue also increased in the second quarter. That county saw a $730,000 increase.
"We'll take any quarter like that we can get our hands on," Fulton County Treasurer Terry Blodgett said Tuesday.
Fulton County's sales tax revenue continued to rise over the previous year. The second quarter saw the largest amount yet.
Fulton County's sales tax increased by $152,418 in the first quarter of 2012, by $276,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011 and by $201,000 in the third quarter of 2011.
Fact Box
Revenue rises
Below are Fulton County sales tax revenues in the second quarter of 2012. Increases from the second quarter of 2011 are shown.
Johnstown (city) - $845,596, up by $31,167 over the second quarter of 2011.
Gloversville - $631,528, up by $50,264.
Bleecker - $65,070, up by $7,996.
Broadalbin (town) - $195,528, up by $25,014.
Broadalbin (village) - $39,127, up by $4,969.
Broadalbin (village portion in Mayfield)- $481, up by $30.
Caroga - $169,080, up by $23,829.
Ephratah - $47,524, up by $5,312.
Johnstown (town) - $254,240, up by $13,817.
Mayfield (town) - $277,920, up by $31,367.
Mayfield (village) - $26,859, up by $3,300.
Northampton - $188,467, up by $21,053.
Northville - $56,851, up by $6,277.
Oppenheim - $60,818, up by $7,267.
Perth - $133,669, up by $13,581.
Stratford - $64,994, up by $8,179.
On Tuesday, Blodgett released his office's analysis of the second quarter, which showed the county's sales tax going from about $4.21 million in the second quarter of 2011 to $4.64 million in the recently concluded second quarter.
All of Fulton County's municipalities saw increases in the second quarter. For example, Gloversville had a $50,264 increase; the town of Mayfield, a $31,367 increase; the city of Johnstown a $31,167 increase; and the town of Broadalbin a $25,014 increase.
Blodgett said many consumers, including those in Fulton County, have been taking a "conservative" approach to the economy. He said the new sales tax numbers indicate people are willing to spend more.
"Consumers have loosened up on their home improvement [spending]," he said.
Gloversville's sales tax revenue went from $581,263 in the second quarter of 2011 to $631,528 in the second quarter of this year.
The $50,264 increase represents an unprecedented jump for the city.
"That's the largest sales tax quarter [for Gloversville] I can remember," Gloversville Finance Commissioner Bruce Van Genderen said today. "Maybe someone owed us some back [sales] taxes and caught up on them."
Van Genderen said he would be "shocked" if the increase wasn't related to people buying more vehicles.
"A lot of people are buying cars this time of the year," he said.
Gloversville budgeted about $2.25 million in sales tax for 2012 and now is more than halfway there through two quarters, with $1.16 million received, Van Genderen said.
The city of Johnstown saw its sales tax increase from $814,429 for the second quarter of 2011 to $845,596 for the second quarter of 2012.
Second-quarter sales tax revenue kept by county government increased by $253,061. It went from $2.8 million in the second quarter of 2011 to $3.06 million this year.
Sales tax for the county's villages and towns was up $172,000. Those municipalities received sales tax totaling $1.41 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to $1.58 million for the second quarter of 2012.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.