Despite the restrictions that were placed on businesses in March and April due to Covid-19, sales tax revue for the city of Dell Rapids is up 2.1% through May when compared to the same time frame as 2019.
Dell Rapids saw a 7.7% increase over 2019 in the month of January, but then saw decreases in sales tax revenue in the months of February and March. Revenue was down 13.6% in February and 1% in March.
“We saw very large increases in April and May, which was surprising, but not surprising I guess when you kind of boil it down and think about it,” said City Administrator Justin Weiland. “People were staying home. They weren’t going to Sioux Falls to purchase their groceries. They were staying here. People in our region from Baltic to everyone else in the region that didn’t want to go into the heart of the lion’s den in Sioux Falls, and they have been coming to Dell Rapids.”
The months of April and May were very good in Dell Rapids. There was an increase of 12.8% in April from 2019 and 20.8% in May.
“There was a definite fear that there was going to be a major fallout. At this point, let’s hope and keep praying that it’s going to continue this way,” said Weiland.
The city is currently about $26,500 ahead of where it was through the end of May in 2019.
Weiland mentioned that the city will continue to keep a conservative estimate in mind with the 2021 budget and with spending for the rest of the year as well.