Sales Tax in Santa Clarita Makes Gain During Fourth Quarter of 2006

Sales tax revenue generated by the holiday shopping season in Santa Clarita increased by just more than 1 percent when compared with the previous year, the city reported Tuesday. Sales tax in the city was also 3 percent higher during the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter of 2006. General retail sales tax for the city increased 5.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 and was up 34.2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2006. The growth reflected strong sales during the holiday season, said city public information office Gail Ortiz. The city’s construction-related sales, however, showed an 18.7 percent decrease. Part of the decrease was due to a seasonal housing slowdown, and some of it was due to the downturn in the construction of new homes and remodeling activities nationwide.