Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the New York State Comptroller’s Office August 1, released its report on local sales tax collections for the first half of 2018, showing the amount of tax collected in both Columbia and Greene counties has increased. Columbia County collected about $20.2 million in sales tax during the first six months of 2018, 7.7 percent more than during the same period last year, making it the county with the second-highest increase in collections in the Capital Region, behind Albany County. During the same period, Greene County collected $15.4 million, a 3.37 percent increase over the first half of 2017. “We have had very good growth on our sales tax,” said Columbia County Treasurer Thomas Daus. “The county has become a destination place and a good place to live.” Sales tax is the largest source of revenue in Columbia County. In Greene County, sales tax collected totaled $30 million, making it the largest source of revenue in that county, as well. “This is obviously good news and we take good news when we can get it,” said Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden. The comptroller's report attributed the increase in sales tax collections to higher gas prices, low unemployment rates and high consumer confidence. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.