The latest sales tax numbers show the city of Lawrence is on pace to have a more than $3 million budget shortfall in sales tax collections this year, in part due to local online shoppers becoming less spend-happy. … During the pandemic, citywide collections of those taxes — called a use tax — soared by nearly 28% and 25% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. This year, the use tax dollars are on pace to grow by less than 1%, a sign that shoppers haven’t abandoned online shopping, but seemingly are no longer treating it like the national pastime. If the trend holds, Lawrence City Hall will see one of its cash cows turn sickly. In 2022, the growth in use taxes added about $1.8 million in new revenue to the city’s coffers. This year, use taxes are on pace to add about $45,000 in new revenue.
Source: LJWorld
