El Paso County’s sales and use tax revenue for 2008 fell only slightly from the previous year, the latest Treasurer’s Office report shows, dipping only $252,000 below 2007 collections.That’s a big difference from city sales tax collections which have been on a downward plunge for several months.The county’s relative buoyancy is due largely to the county’s ability to collect taxes on WalMart stores and big box retail outlets in Falcon and Monument and other areas outside the Colorado Springs city limits, as well as within the city limits.County Treasurer Sandra Damron’s report showed the county collected $68.5 million in 2008, compared to $68.75 million in 2007.One gloomy note, though, is that December’s collections – on October sales – stood at $5.1 million, the second-lowest of any month during 2008.Damron’s report also showed the county’s investment earnings plummeted last year by 52 percent, and fees fell by 2.6 percent, the latter due to a drop in land development recording fees which are associated with the construction business.Check back for more as this story develops.

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