**Steamboat Springs, Colorado-September 1, 2026-**The City of Steamboat Springs published the preliminary July 2026 sales, use, accommodation, and short‑term rental (STR) tax report, which decreased 5.6% compared to July 2025, representing a decrease of $204,086. Year‑to‑date collections are $986,755 below the same period last year. Sales tax revenue for 2026 was budgeted to be 1% below 2025 levels, which means preliminary July collections are falling short of budget by 2.75%.
Compared to July 2025, several categories experienced notable changes in tax collections. Liquor And Marijuana decreased by 14.2%, Lodging decreased by almost 13%, Sporting Goods decreased by 11%, Grocery Stores decreased 6.9%, and Restaurants decreased by almost 6%.
Accommodation Tax is dedicated revenue used to fund development of improvements and amenities that enhance the community identity, environmental sustainability, and economic health of Steamboat Springs; acquisition of real property for parks, recreation, and open space purposes; and preservation of the city’s natural resources. In July 2026, tax collections decreased from the previous year by 16.19%, or $22,148.
Short-Term Rental tax (STR tax) is dedicated for use to increase the stock of affordable and attainable housing by providing incentives and contributions to facilitate the development of affordable and attainable housing at locations including, but not limited to, Brown Ranch and to provide funding for infrastructure associated with affordable and attainable housing, including without limitation, energy, stormwater, water, wastewater, and multi-modal transportation. STR tax collections for July 2026 were almost 27% lower than July 2025, representing a decrease of $226,751.
Building Use Tax is utilized to fund capital projects for the City of Steamboat Springs. Use tax collections can fluctuate based on building permits issued, reconciliations completed, as well as the size and number of developments within the city. In July 2026, net use tax collections decreased by almost 75%, or a total of $680,797.
The city’s tax division strives to provide superior services. General tax information and staff contacts can be found on the Municipal Tax page. The webpage provides an efficient way for community members to access information on sales tax rates, online sales tax filing, construction use tax, the excise tax on construction, vehicle use tax, STR tax, and links to documents, reports, and the sales tax code.
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Contact
Email Deni Yaneva, Budget and Tax Manager, or call 970-871-8242
Email Michael Lane, Marketing & Communications Manager, or call 970-871-8220