RAPID CITY, S.D. – Sales tax receipts for February are showing stronger-than-expected numbers for the first two months of 2026, according to city officials.

“The sales tax receipts are indicating a significant early-year growth across most sectors,” said Rapid City Finance Director Daniel Ainslie. “Though it is still too early to establish a trend, collections are currently remarkably higher than the 2026 budget projection. Tourism activity was solid as well for the first two months.”

General two percent sales tax collections increased 11.4 percent in February compared to February 2025. Overall collections are 7.9 percent above the 2026 budget projection and tourism sales tax collections for February were 6.2 percent higher than the prior year.

Total sales tax collections through the first two months of the year totaled $13.3 million, nearly $1 million higher than the receipts from the January-February period from 2025, which sat at $12.33 million. Tourism sales tax receipts tallied $854,244 for the first two months compared to $793,226 for the opening two months of 2025.

Solid increases were also reflected in the General Fund, Capital Improvement Projects Fund and Vision Fund sales tax classifications.