RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City sales tax receipts for January show solid early-year growth across most sectors, according to the first tax report of 2026.

Total sales tax collections for the month reached $6,473,352, marking a 4.7 percent increase over the $6,184,428 collected in January 2025.

The general 2 percent sales tax collections rose 4.3 percent to $3,036,863 compared to $2,911,232 in the same period last year. These collections are currently 3.7 percent above the 2026 budget projection. Revenue from the general fund is used to support essential services in Rapid City, including police, fire, library, parks, and recreation.

Rapid City Finance Director Daniel Ainslie is scheduled to present the report at Wednesday’s Legal and Finance Committee meeting at 12:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

“While one month of data is not enough to establish a trend, sales tax receipts indicate solid numbers to begin the year,” Ainslie said. “And the January numbers are following a December report that was way beyond expectations, so we are pleased to see a good start to the year.”

The January figures follow a record-breaking December for sales tax collections in Rapid City, which reached an all-time single-month high of more than $10.2 million. This contributed to a record-setting 2025, during which the city collected $91.8 million in sales tax revenue, a 5 percent increase over 2024.

The report also highlighted strong tourism activity in Rapid City. Tourism sales tax collections for January were 9.4 percent higher than the same month last year and currently sit 4.7 percent above budget.