HomeMy WebLinkAbout06. 260303 Town of Vail Revenue Update1
TOWN OF VAIL
REVENUE UPDATE
March 3, 2026
4.0% General Sales Tax
Upon receipt of all sales tax returns, January 2026 collections are estimated to
be $5,525,983, down (7.3)% from 2025 and down (5.3)% from the budget.
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index was up 2.4% for the 12-
months ending January 2026. The annual budget totals $42.3 million. This
amount does not yet reflect the 7% overall budget reduction (including the 10%
winter budget reductions), which will be incorporated in the April supplemental.
January sales tax collections were impacted by limited snowfall, but particularly
in the lodging category, which declined (13.0)% compared to January 2025. The
food and beverage category showed the strongest performance, increasing 1.1%
compared to January 2025, primarily driven by restaurants that were vacant in
January 2025 but are now occupied.
0.5% Housing Fund Sales Tax
Upon receipt of all sales tax returns, January 2026 collections of the 0.5% housing
sales tax are estimated to be $675,210, down (7.0)% from 2025 and down (5.8)%
from the budget. The annual budget for the housing fund sales tax totals $5.1
million. This amount does not yet reflect the 7% overall budget reduction (including
the 10% winter budget reductions), which will be incorporated in the April
supplemental.
Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT)
RETT collections through February 23 total $498,896, down (16.9)% from this time
in 2025. This decrease is due to a small number of large-dollar sales that occurred
in early 2025. The number of property sales (excluding time-shares) were flat with
2025. The annual budget for RETT collections totals $7.8 million for 2026.
Lift Tax
Lift tax collections for January 2026 total $1,500,403, down (8.2)% or $(134,670)
from 2025. January lift tax collections were impacted by limited snowfall.
Daily Parking Sales
Daily sales from the parking structures from November through February 22nd total
approximately $2,689,893, down (12.9)% from time last year. This amount
includes daily fees charged to the parking pass holders.
The number of daily parking facility vehicle entries (including free periods) is down
approximately (11.8)% compared to the prior winter season. The number of paid
parking transactions is down approximately (20.1)% compared to the prior winter
season.
2
Winter Parking Pass Sales
Winter parking pass sales for the 2025 – 2026 season through February 22nd total
approximately $1,190,250, a decrease of $(46,800) or (3.8)% from the prior
season. Adjustments to the pass pricing structure were approved for the 2025-
2026 season. If prices had not been increased (and the same number of passes
were sold), collections would have been down approximately ($103,925), or (8.6)%
from the prior season mainly due the decrease in employee plus passes sold.
2025/2026 season pass sales indicate that more employees opted for the local
pass option than prior years. The total budget for Winter parking pass sales is
1,240,000.
The number of passes sold by type is included in the following chart:
Pass Type
2025 - 2026
Pass Sales
2024 – 2025
Pass Sales
Increase /
Decrease)
from Prior
Year
Premier 21 21 -
Vail Village Business Premier 70 69 1
Lionshead Business Premier 4 7 (3)
Employee 491 487 4
Employee Plus 265 330 (65)
Local 4,073 3,575 498
Total 4,924 4,489 435
Preliminary 2026 Budget % change % change
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Budget Variance from 2025 from Budget
January 3,422,209$ 5,217,125$ 5,911,572$ 5,805,199$ 5,963,170$ 5,836,300$ 5,525,983$ (310,317)$ -7.33% -5.32%
YTD 3,422,209$ 5,217,125$ 5,911,572$ 5,805,199$ 5,963,170$ 5,836,300$ 5,525,983$ (310,317)$ -7.33% -5.32%
February 3,691,850 5,686,585 6,041,108 6,080,349 6,362,719 6,142,600 -
March 4,364,797 5,912,059 6,055,992 6,412,535 6,301,518 6,103,200 -
April 1,751,528 2,234,296 2,264,892 1,842,893 2,216,331 2,170,678 -
May 1,061,516 1,227,974 1,118,011 1,176,629 1,242,458 1,183,000 -
June 2,149,312 2,317,931 2,272,457 2,361,482 2,390,380 2,322,200 -
July 3,491,668 3,507,973 3,412,277 3,643,192 3,757,598 3,679,500 -
August 2,877,550 2,997,389 2,932,111 3,052,213 3,274,312 3,185,400 -
September 2,359,528 2,441,331 2,508,064 2,415,397 2,545,506 2,475,700 -
October 1,734,964 1,729,558 1,773,358 1,753,419 1,905,399 1,777,600 -
November 1,880,397 1,902,643 1,901,141 1,844,461 1,864,954 1,807,572 -
December 5,749,365 5,602,018 5,811,950 5,789,893 5,782,346 5,654,095 -
Total 34,534,683$ 40,776,882$ 42,002,933$ 42,177,661$ 43,606,691$ 42,337,800$ 5,525,983$ (310,317)$ -7.33%-5.32%
Preliminary 2026 Budget % change % change
2022 2023 2024 2025 Budget Variance from 2025 from Budget
January 645,487$ 720,906$ 705,167$ 725,863$ 716,600$ 675,210$ (41,390)$ -6.98% -5.78%
YTD 645,487$ 720,906$ 705,167$ 725,863$ 716,600$ 675,210$ (41,390)$ -6.98% -5.78%
February 702,730 736,788 741,549 775,643 747,700 -
March 719,717 738,244 783,123 769,935 746,500 -
April 269,018 271,930 222,032 267,398 266,700 -
May 146,657 132,333 139,793 148,481 138,500 -
June 280,460 275,113 284,485 288,527 280,900 -
July 424,602 412,849 439,142 453,414 432,900 -
August 361,165 352,887 369,212 396,387 371,500 -
September 294,861 304,068 293,066 308,893 300,900 -
October 207,397 213,568 210,364 229,422 214,100 -
November 230,383 229,092 222,639 225,223 224,600 -
December 671,982 703,050 699,750 697,033 700,100 -
Total 4,954,459$ 5,090,828$ 5,110,322$ 5,286,220$ 5,141,000$ 675,210$ (41,390)$ -6.98% -5.78%
2026 Budget Comparison
0.5% Collected
Sales Tax
Actual 0.5% Collections
0.5% HOUSING SALES TAX
Town of Vail Revenue Update
March 3, 2026
4.0% GENERAL SALES TAX
2026 Budget Comparison
Actual 4.0% Collections 4.0% Collected
Sales Tax
Through January 31
0.5% Housing Sales Tax Collections By Year
Through January 31
Town of Vail Revenue Update
March 3, 2026
4% General Sales Tax Collections By Year
January collections of $675,210 are down (7.0)%from prior year and are down (5.8)% from the
budget.
645,487
720,906
705,167
725,863
675,210
0 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
5,217,125
5,911,572
5,805,199
5,963,170
5,525,983
0 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
January collections of $5,525,983 are down (7.3)% from prior year and are down (5.3)%from the
budget.
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index was up 2.4% in the 12-months ending January
YTD through February 23
Lift Tax Collections
Through January 2026
Town of Vail Revenue Update
March 3, 2026
Real Estate Transfer Tax by Year
This chart shows YTD collections of 1% RETT, segmented by real property values. 2025
collections are down (16.9)% from the prior year.
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Sales Less Than $2.5 Million Sales $2.5 to $5 Million Sales $5 to $10 Million Sales Over $10 Million
698,384 $
764,806
1,256,668
601,287
498,896
2026 YTD lift tax collections of $1,500,403 are down (8.2)% or $(134,670) from the same time
last year.
1,452,347
1,503,415
1,609,419
1,635,073
1,500,403
0 $200,000 $400,000 $600,000 $800,000 $1,000,000 $1,200,000 $1,400,000 $1,600,000
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Vail Business Review
January 2026
March 3, 2026
The Vail Business Review breaks down the 4.5% sales tax collected for the month of
January. The 4.5% sales tax includes the town’s general 4% sales tax and the 0.5%
housing sales tax supported by Town of Vail voters during the November 2021 election,
effective January 1, 2022. The housing sales tax sunsets on December 31, 2051.
January 4.5% sales tax was down (7.3)% from the prior year. Retail decreased (4.1)%,
lodging decreased (13.0)%, food and beverage increased 1.1%, and utilities/other
decreased (8.4)%. Excluding the out-of-town category, sales tax for the month of
January was down (6.1)% compared to prior year.
Town of Vail sales tax reports, the Vail Business Review, and financial statements are
available on the internet at vail.gov. You may email me to request to have the Vail
Business Review emailed to you automatically.
Please remember when reading the Vail Business Review that it is produced from sales
tax collections as opposed to actual gross sales.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call me at (970) 479-2125 or
Carlie Smith, Finance Director, at (970) 479-2119.
Sincerely,
Lauren Noll
Revenue Manager
January 2025
Sales Tax Collections by Business Type
January 2026
Town of Vail Business Review
January Sales Tax Collections by Year
January 2026 Sales Tax
1,879,590
Lodging
2,640,713
Food &
Beverage
1,380,936
Utilities &
Other
299,804
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
4.1)% 1.1%8.4)%
Retail
5,874,615
6,632,629
6,497,587
6,689,033
6,201,042
0 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $7,000,000
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
General Sales Tax
Housing Sales Tax
January 2026 retail sales decreased (4.1)%, lodging decreased (13.0)%, food and beverage
increased 1.1%, and utilities and other decreased (8.4)%.
The figures above reflect 4.5% sales tax.
Retail
1,959,690
Lodging
3,036,871
Food &
Beverage
1,365,345
Utilities &
Other
327,127
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
13.0)%
This report represents collections of Town of Vail sales tax, as opposed to actual gross sales.
On January 1st, 2022, Town of Vail sales tax increased from 4.0% to 4.5% on all items except food for
home consumption. The 0.5% increase to sales tax is depicted in light blue. General 4.0% sales tax
collections are shown in darker blue.
Total January 2025 collections were $6,689,033; January 2026 collections were $6,201,042, down from
the prior year (7.3)%.
January 2026 Sales Tax
Town of Vail Business Review
January2025January2026
Geographic Area Trends by Year
January Sales Tax
Sales Tax by Location
2,589,481
3,046,769
2,866,875
2,999,919
2,855,327
1,379,034
1,464,331
1,436,515
1,531,972
1,360,109
1,047,707
1,238,976
1,280,144
1,199,325
1,103,981
858,392
882,553
914,053
957,817
881,626
Other Areas
14%
Lionshead
18%
Out of
Town
23%
Vail Village
45%
Vail Village sales tax decreased (4.8)%, Lionshead decreased (7.9)%, Other Areas decreased (8.0)%, and
Out of Town decreased (11.2)%. Excluding Out of Town collections, all areas were down (6.1)%.
The figures above reflect 4.5% sales tax.
0 $500,000 $1,000,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Vail Village
Out of Town
Lionshead
Other Areas
This chart shows January sales tax collections by geographic area over time.
The 0.5% increase for housing sales tax is depicted in lighter shades. General 4.0% sales tax
collections are shown in darker shades.
Other Areas
14%
Lionshead
18%
Out of
Town
22%
Vail Village
46%
Accommodation Services Sales Tax by Year
Retail Business 4.5% Sales Tax Detail
January 2026 Sales Tax
Town of Vail Business Review
Apparel
475,602
Grocery
221,603
Gallery
12,157
Gifts
11,380
Jewelry
105,743RetailLiquor
65,169
Retail Other
342,736
Sporting Goods
515,351
Online Retailers
129,701
Retail Home
Occupation
149
January 2026 accommodations services decreased (13.0)% from the prior year. Short-term rentals decreased
13.1)% and hotels and lodges decreased (13.0)%.
The figures above reflect 4.5% sales tax.
Short-term rental sales tax collection numbers include online marketplace facilitators like Airbnb and VRBO.
Revenue collections from facilitators may include some hotels and lodges that advertise and rent properties on
these platforms.
2,046,652
880,545
2,063,442
973,429
1,794,361
846,351
0 $500,000 $1,000,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000
Hotel and Lodges
Short-Term Rentals
2026 2025 2024
Retail 213,879 258,206 (44,328) -17.2%
Lodging 502,622 564,237 (61,615) -10.9%
F & B 158,458 130,703 27,755 21.2%
Other 6,668 4,671 1,997 42.7%
Total 881,626 957,817 (76,192) -8.0%
Retail 278,126 309,499 (31,373) -10.1%
Lodging 576,423 640,729 (64,306) -10.0%
F & B 239,842 240,177 (335) -0.1%
Other 9,589 8,920 669 7.5%
Total 1,103,981 1,199,325 (95,344) -7.9%
Retail 410,354 438,653 (28,298) -6.5%
Lodging 689,918 809,778 (119,860) -14.8%
F & B 3,046 4,250 (1,204) -28.3%
Other 256,790 279,291 (22,501) -8.1%
Total 1,360,109 1,531,972 (171,863) -11.2%
Retail 977,230 953,332 23,898 2.5%
Lodging 871,750 1,022,127 (150,377) -14.7%
F & B 979,590 990,214 (10,624) -1.1%
Other 26,757 34,245 (7,488) -21.9%
Total 2,855,327 2,999,919 (144,592) -4.8%
Retail 1,879,590 1,959,690 (80,101) -4.1%
Lodging 2,640,713 3,036,871 (396,159) -13.0%
F & B 1,380,936 1,365,345 15,591 1.1%
Other 299,804 327,127 (27,323) -8.4%
Total 6,201,042 6,689,033 (487,991) -7.3%
Retail Apparel 475,602 438,681 36,921 8.4%
Retail Food 221,603 260,327 (38,724) -14.9%
Retail Gallery 12,157 16,528 (4,371) -26.4%
Retail Gift 11,380 11,009 372 3.4%
Retail Home Occupation 149 151 (2) -1.5%
Retail Jewelry 105,743 89,628 16,115 18.0%
Retail Liquor 65,169 69,556 (4,387) -6.3%
Retail Other 342,736 367,265 (24,528) -6.7%
Retail Sport 515,351 574,660 (59,309) -10.3%
Retail Online Retailer 129,701 131,887 (2,186) -1.7%
Total 1,879,590 1,959,690 (80,101) -4.1%
Cascade Village / East Vail / Sandstone / West Vail
Town of Vail Business Review
January 4.5% Sales Tax
2026 Collections 2025 Collections YoY % ChangeYoY $ Change
Total - All Areas
Lionshead
Out of Town
Vail Village
Retail Summary