Aurora reports $27.2M in April sales tax; year-to-date collections lag adopted budget by $3.4M

Richard Gogggins, budget office, told the Management and Finance Policy Committee that sales tax collections for April 2026 totaled $27.2 million, an increase of $43,200 (1.5%) over April 2025.

Gogggins said year-to-date collections are 0.2% below the same period last year and approximately $3.4 million, or 3.2%, lower than the city's 2026 adopted budget. He described variation by sector: "collections from consistent taxpayers grew 0.9% compared to April 2025," while variable sales taxpayers were 9.1% higher than April 2025 but remain down year-to-date compared with last year.

At a sector level, Gogggins highlighted that clothing and clothing-accessory retailers have performed strongly, with year-to-date collections up 16.1% compared with 2025. In contrast, he said, "collections from the auto dealers and parts sector declined 16% in April," driven primarily by lower remittances from new and used auto dealers; year-to-date the auto sector is down about $676,000, an 8.6% decline from the same period a year ago.

Council Member Gardner asked clarifying questions about the two figures shown on the report (below budget vs. below the same period in 2025). Gogggins confirmed the larger gap is the shortfall versus the adopted 2026 budget and the other figure compares year-to-date collections to the same period last year.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote on the minutes or the tax report; Gogggins remained available to answer follow-up questions.

The committee proceeded to its scheduled investment-policy items after the sales-tax briefing.