Sales tax revenue for local governments in the North Country rose 29 percent in the second quarter (April to June 2021) compared to the same period last year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

In St. Lawrence County, sales tax revenue was $5.1 million higher over the three-month period compared to 2020 figures. according to the comptroller report. The figures showed increases in all three months.

The sales tax figures are $5.4 million in April 2021 compared to $3.6 in April 2020; $5.4 million to $3.1 million in May, and $8.8 million to $7.8 in June.

The Franklin County sales tax figures are $2.1 million in April 2021 compared to $1.3 million in 2020; $2.1 million to $1.8 million in May; and $3.9 million to $3.1 million in June.

In Jefferson County, sales tax figures are $6.8 million in April 2021 compared to $4.3 million in 2020; $6.8 million to $3.9 million in May; and $13.1 million to $9.4 in June.

State sales tax collections during this period totaled just over $1.6 billion and even surpassed collections reported during the second quarter of 2019, before the onset of the pandemic.

The size of the increase largely reflects extremely weak collections in the April to June period of 2020. However, even compared to pre-pandemic collections for the same period in 2019, statewide collections in 2021 were up 8.7% or $396 million.