Woodland Park reports stronger-than-expected sales-tax receipts for November; lodging tax still lagging

City finance staff delivered the sales-tax update for November 2025 and reported mixed results: November collections were reported at $704,261 (about $115,000 higher than the same month last year), December showed an 18.4% year-over-year increase, and overall year-to-date sales-tax receipts were up about 2.7% (approximately $206,000 over the previous year), slightly above the 2% projection in the budget.

Staff cautioned that some month-to-month volatility has been tied to changes in SNAP benefit timing earlier in the season; lodging tax remained down 35% year-to-date, though staff noted a recent month with a 67% increase compared with the same month last year — the first monthly increase for lodging tax this year.

Council thanked staff for the report. No policy action was taken; staff will provide December’s finalized numbers when available.