Meal and beverage collections rise in August in R.I.

THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SAID local 1 percent meal and beverage tax collections increased 4 percent over the year in August. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
THE R.I. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SAID local 1 percent meal and beverage tax collections increased 4 percent over the year in August. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

(Updated 2:32 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – Local 1 percent meal and beverage tax collections increased 4 percent over the year in August, the state Department of Revenue said Friday.
The tax, which is collected on the sale of a meal and/or beverage prepared away from home, generated $2.7 million in August, $103,645 more than in August 2015.
The state agency described the year-over-year growth as “modest,” but less than the 7.8 percent year-over-year growth rate realized in August 2015.
Charlestown led the year-over-year collection with a 42.5 percent increase, while Bristol had the greatest percentage decrease at 21 percent. Providence had the largest nominal increase over the year at $33,269, while Middletown had the largest decrease at $12,430.

Collections also rose 6.1 percent during the first two months of the fiscal year, to $5.5 million, which is $319,415 more than in the same fiscal period in 2015.
The fiscal year to date growth was “reasonably strong,” according to the state agency, but below the 7 percent growth recorded during the previous year comparison period.

Fiscal year over fiscal year, East Greenwich led collections with a 113 percent increase, while Scituate had the largest percentage decrease at 24.4 percent. East Greenwich also had the largest nominal increase at $157,527 and Middletown had the largest nominal decrease at $11,970.
In addition, the DOR released its July 1 percent hotel tax collections report, showing a 17.7 percent increase over the year, to $685,792 from $582,496 in July 2015.

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