The Town of Estes Park collected $1,433,506 in sales tax in April, up from $1,241,870 for April 2024, a 15.43% increase in a month-to-month comparison.
Overall, the town collected $4,598,187 from January through April 2025 compared to $4,384,107 during the same period in 2024 for a 4.88% increase.
Recreation and lodging were the big winners when it came to top gains in April sales taxes remitted.
Recreation receipts this April nearly doubled those received in April 2024, coming in 90.41% higher. Lodging receipts, which had been a cause of concern because they had been lagging during the year’s first quarter, showed a 64% increase over 2024.
Those increases, however, were tempered by some catch-up payments on delinquent accounts.
Those considerably higher monthly receipts helped raise the overall monthly year-over-year totals to 4.88% more than in 2024. Through the end of the first quarter, receipts were just .71% over 2024.
The recreation industry sector collections increased 90.41%, or $2,121, in April 2025 over April 2024. While delinquent returns filed in 2025 were higher than in 2024, a state-provided refund to filers in 2024 offset the increase. After backing out delinquent returns, the recreation industry experienced an increase, indicating an increase in economic activity.
Other differences noted by the detailed reports provided by the town of Estes Park’s finance department showed that the automotive industry sector collections decreased 35.10%, or $6,703 in April 2025 from April 2024.
Delinquent returns filed in 2025 were down $412 from 2024. After backing out delinquencies, the automotive industry experienced a decrease of $6,291.
Restaurant activity was also down for the month, coming in $20,188 lower than in 2024. Overall, the restaurant industry experienced a decrease, which appears to be due to increased delinquent returns filed in 2024 and includes several potential late filers for 2025.
However, the grocery industry sector collections increased 24.03%, or 26,957 in April 2025 over April 2024, when there appeared to be an increase in the sector’s economic activity. In the coming months, it will be interesting to see the impact of the Safeway grocery strike on this industry.
The lodging industry sector collections for April 2025 reflected an increase of 63.90%, or $162,732, over April 2024. Delinquency filings were $167,569 higher in 2025 compared to 2024. Several significant delinquent returns were filed in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. After backing out delinquency filings, this industry experienced a decrease of $4,836, which appears to indicate a slight decline in economic activity and potential late filers.
The construction industry sector collections for April 2025 reflected a decrease of 9.54%, or $8,134 from April 2024. Delinquent returns were $615 higher in 2025. After backing out delinquency filings, this industry showed a decrease of $8,749, indicating a slight decline in economic activity and including some possible late filers.
The utilities industry sector collections for April 2025 decreased 11.18%, or $7,846 from April 2024. Delinquent returns were $251 higher in 2025. After backing out delinquencies, this industry experienced a decrease of $8,096, which appears to indicate a reduction in economic activity.
The taxable sales schedules reflect the sales activity in the month of the sale, regardless of when the sales taxes were remitted. Taxable sales reported for April 2025 decreased 1% from the taxable sales reported for April 2024.
Estes Park is a statutory municipality and does not collect its own sales tax directly. Businesses in Estes Park remit their sales tax payments to the Colorado Department of Revenue. The Town receives its portion of the sales tax revenue from the Colorado Department of Revenue, typically about 45 days after it is paid to the state.