Local sales tax collection on Long Island declined by 26% in April, following business closures related to the coronavirus. That’s according to a report released Thursday by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
The state of New York collected a little more than $1 billion in sales tax last month compared to $1.3 billion in April 2019.
DiNapoli says the first quarter of 2020 was relatively strong, but the COVID-19 shutdown decreased revenues for local governments across the state.
Long Island saw the second biggest drop in local sales tax collections in New York. There was a $50 million difference in April compared to the same month last year.
Nassau and Suffolk Counties are already seeing budget shortfalls.
Most cities, towns and villages and some school districts rely on sales tax revenues to support their operations.
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