Pubdate: Mon, 19 Apr 2010
Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Summit Daily News
Contact: http://apps.summitdaily.com/forms/letter/index.php
Website: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587
Author: Caitlin Row

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES GIVE FRISCO A BOOST

Feb. sales tax collections still lower than 2009, getting closer to flat

FRISCO - Despite Frisco's February sales taxes still being down, 
funds collected exhibited some encouraging growth.

According to revenue specialist Chad Most, Frisco was 0.7 percent 
down over February of 2009, or just over $3,000 down. Year-to-date, 
funds were just "a hair over 4 percent down from last year, year-to-date."

January 2010 revenues were down 7.13 percent, and January 2009 
collections were down 12.87 percent from 2008.

"That's some positive news," Most said. "We're getting closer and 
closer to flat."

Categories exhibiting growth in Frisco include restaurants (up 5 
percent), health and beauty (up 209 percent), recreation (up 13 
percent) and utility (up 6 percent).

"In health and beauty, a couple businesses - in particular medical 
marijuana dispensaries - added to the significant growth," Most said, 
adding that it was such a small category before that any new sales 
would boost it significantly.

Most also cited new restaurants in Frisco as the cause for the 
category's February growth. Even so, the town is still seeing large 
declines in categories such as lodging and grocery sales.

"It's taking longer to stabilize than initially hoped," he said.

While colletions seem to be stabalizing, the Town of Frisco hopes to 
increase its 2010 sales tax acquisitions with revenues generated from 
the peninsula recreation redevelopment project - a new tubing hill 
could potentially be open for Thanksgiving.

"We're certainly moving in the right direction," Most said. "We're 
hopeful that in March we'll see things flat or with a little bit of 
growth, and then we hope to be stabilized for the rest of the year. 
I'm hearing on the street that things seem to be stabilizing a bit."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart