Business is booming in the Finger Lakes.
The New York State Association of Counties released an update to county officials on sales tax results in 2017.
The numbers are impressive, and while Seneca County has benefited from having a $440 million gaming facility in Tyre, which houses restaurants, a 150-room hotel — the entire region has seen another year of growth.
According to NYSAC the average change per county between 2016 and 2017 — was an increase of 3.7 percent. They noted that only five counties were negative in the report, which includes the first nine months of the year.
The average increase per county for New York State — taking New York City out of the equation was still an impressive 2.9 percent. The third-quarter was even more impressive — with New York State collectively improving by 4.5 percent over the same period in 2016.
Oswego, Cayuga and Seneca counties saw the biggest increases in sales tax revenue compared to last year, according to NYSAC. The report shows that Oswego carried an increase of 12.5 percent. While Cayuga saw an increase of 10.2 percent over 2016. Seneca County, who ranked third in the report, has seen a 9 percent increase in sales tax revenue this year.
-1.jpg)
Onondaga and Wayne counties were the slowest performers, according to the report. Officials in Wayne County have been seeking out opportunities to improve tourism, but struggle due to the lack of a major thoroughfare.
The increases aren’t just inflated percentages, either. It’s a meaningful amount of money. Especially for municipalities who are now moving through the budget process to determine 2018 spending and tax levies.
RELATED: Full breakdown, including statewide numbers (report)
No community in the Finger Lakes suffered a loss. Speaking to the results of the NYSAC report, Seneca County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Shipley (R-Waterloo) said during Saturday’s budget workshop session that the results were a ‘positive’ sign that showed the growth the county and region were capable of.
