RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City sales tax collections for April continue to reflect growth across most sectors of the community’s economy. The April sales tax reports will be shared with the Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee Wednesday.
April’s general two percent sales tax revenues increased 7.6 percent compared to April 2025. Total sales tax collections through April totaled more than $28.3 million, compared to $26.6 million for the first four months of 2025. April collections tallied more than $7.3 million, a record for the month of April, and nearly $500,000 more than the receipts collected for April last year.
Rapid City Finance Director Daniel Ainslie indicates the year-to-date General Fund Sales Tax collection trends are running 5.6 percent above the 2026 budget projection, “indicating stronger than expected economic activity.”
Ainslie says tourism activity grew 2.68 percent in April, and the first four months of tourism-related sales tax collections remain close to budget expectations and consistent with seasonal trends.
In addition to tourism and general sales tax collections, sales tax receipts for Capital Improvement Fund and Vision Fund classifications were also up compared to April 2025 receipts.
Ainslie indicated while sales tax collections are continuing to exceed budget projections, the cost to deliver City services and make repairs to Rapid City roads, parks and facilities continues to climb.
The revenue streams feed into three distinct areas of the Rapid City budget:
- The General Fund supports police, fire, library, parks and recreation and other core operational services.
- The Capital Improvement Fund funds infrastructure reconstruction and upgrades such as road construction and overlays, park improvements and community facility enhancements.
- The Vision Fund supports legacy and quality of life projects that enhance the economics and livability of the community. Past projects include The Monument, Roosevelt Swim Center and Mount Rushmore Road improvements.
