Naperville sales tax figures offer rosy outlook

Naperville finance officials are singing a happy tune following this week’s posting of May’s sales tax receipts.

The May receipts, which represent sales tax collected in February, mark the 13th consecutive month the city’s sales tax collection has topped the previous year.

The $2.05 million received Monday was the highest amount the city has received since the $2.04 million in May 2007, before the recession officially began.

City Finance Director Karen DeAngelis said the 2007 fiscal year, which ended in April 2007, produced the “absolute highest” amount of sales tax collected in Naperville’s history.

“That was all in the same time frame so that tells me the recession is behind us and we’re ready to continue this uptick,” DeAngelis said Wednesday. “In the early months of this trend I was really cautiously optimistic but 13 months really makes me confident to say we’re transitioning beyond the downturn and into recovery.”

John Schmitt, president and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, said he was happy to hear the “good news from Karen” but said be believes there’s still too many people out of work and on hard times to call the recession over.

“We’re certainly seeing a lot of positive signs and improved attitudes among our members for the first time in a bit,” he said. “That’s great to see and it also reinforces the position we took last year that the hardships would be temporary and the sales tax revenue would return as long as the city keeps costs low for businesses.”

Both DeAngelis and Schmitt cited improved auto and auto-related sales for the positive numbers.

“National trends are showing us that auto sales are up significantly, just as they are locally,” DeAngelis said. “In the first quarter of 2011 auto sales are up 15 percent nationally.”

She’s less optimistic, however, about the jobs picture, with unemployment figures remaining stubbornly high.

“I’m confident that things are coming together and falling into place, though,” she said. “Rosy times are on the way.”