Lucas County sales tax receipts up 11.1% for new, used vehicles

7/12/2012

Lucas County's sales tax receipts from the purchase of new and used vehicles are headed up.

The first six months of the year brought a 11.1 percent increase in receipts compared to the same period last year, according to the county clerk of courts.

In dollars, that's an increase of $568,541 to the county coffers.

Clerk Bernie Quilter also reports that the number of vehicles sold in the county at auto dealerships and private transactions jumped 7.8 percent from January to June when compared to the same period a year ago.

So far this year, 11,490 new vehicles have been bought at dealerships, 695 more than last year at this time. Overall, 59,224 cars and trucks have been transferred to new owners, 4,648 more than in 2011

The six months of vehicle sales generated a total $5,207,581 county share of sales tax revenue. A 6.75 percent sales tax is collected in Lucas County, including the 5.5 percent base state tax and a 1.25 percent county tax.

Commissioner Pete Gerken said the sales tax growth was another positive sign that the economy is improving.

"People are a little more confident in their employment. They are employed and keeping their jobs," he said. "People are sensing that the down slide is over and we are slowly coming up hill again."