STURGIS, S.D. – Sales tax receipts for February 2026 show continued stability in local economic activity when compared to prior years.

For the General Fund sales tax (1%), collections in February 2026 were 1.16% higher than February 2025.

City Administrator Aaron Jordan says when examining year-to-date performance, sales for the first two months of 2026 are 0.77% higher than the same period in 2025 and 23.36% higher than the same period in 2024.

He says this trend suggests that while year-over-year growth compared to 2025 is modest, overall taxable sales remain significantly higher than levels observed two years ago.

For the Municipal Gross Receipts Tax (MGRT), commonly referred to as the BBB tax, February 2026 collections were 7.26% higher than February 2025. Year-to-date revenues through the first two months of 2026 are 1.70% higher than the same period in 2025 and 7.06% higher than 2024 levels.

The stronger growth in MGRT collections compared to general sales tax may indicate continued strength in the hospitality, lodging, restaurant, and entertainment sectors, which are key components of the local economy and closely tied to tourism and event-related activity in the Sturgis area.

Overall, the early 2026 data reflect stable and modestly increasing sales activity, with particularly strong performance relative to 2024 levels. Staff will continue to monitor monthly collections to determine whether this trend continues through the spring and into the upcoming tourism and rally season.