By Hank Russell
A recent report from the New York State Comptroller’s Office found that sales tax collections in the first three months of this year were 1.9% higher than they were the same time last year. Long Island collected $839 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $823.6 million in the first three months of 2024.
Both counties also saw modest gains in the first quarter. In Nassau, there were $384.0 million in collections, up 2.0% from the same quarter the previous year, when the county brought in $376.6 million. In Suffolk, revenue rose 1.8% from $446 million to $453.8 million.
On a monthly basis, January and February looked good, but collections in March fell off. On Long Island, January’s collections increased 7.0% from $279.8 million in January 2024 to $299.4 million this year. In February, the gains were smaller — only 1.2% year over year from $250.8 million to $253.8 million. During the month of March, the region took in 2.4% less money compared to the same month last year; Long Island collected $285.8 million this year, while revenues were at $293 million last year.
Nassau and Suffolk also experienced the same fate. In Nassau County, $138.6 million was collected — up 9.9% from the previous year, when it was $126.1 million. February saw only a 1% increase from $116 million to $117.1 million, but in March, the county saw a 4.6% drop, from $134.5 million to $128.3 million.
Suffolk’s intake this January rose 4.6% from the same month last year to $160.5 million from $153.5 million. The following month, the county had a slight bump in revenue from $134.6 million to $136.4 million. Suffolk also experienced a decline in March as well, but a very small one — 0.6%, with the amount falling from $157.9 million in March 2024 to $156.9 million two months ago.
The region’s performance in March could be a bellwether of things to come, according to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
“Local sales tax collections grew in the first quarter compared to last year, but this growth could be threatened by economic disruptions and uncertainty,” DiNapoli said. “I encourage local officials to take advantage of the financial tools and guidance my office offers to help shore up their finances and build resilience against the challenging headwinds we face.”