Steamboat Springs, Colorado–April 1, 2026-The city published the preliminary February 2026 sales, use, accommodation, and short‑term rental (STR) tax report, which were 4.76% lower than the same month in 2025, a decrease of $220,849. Year‑to‑date collections are down $332,675 compared to the prior year. Sales tax revenue was budgeted to be 1% below 2025 levels, meaning February collections fell short of the budget by 3.76%.
Compared to February 2025, several categories experienced notable declines in tax collections. Liquor Stores and Marijuana decreased by 11.89%, Utilities by 10.19%, Sporting Goods by 9.69%, Lodging by 6.56%, and Restaurants by 5.94%. However, an 18.45% increase in Construction helped offset some of these declines.
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 February 2026, tax collections decreased from the previous year by 5.73%.
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 February 2026 were 3.93% lower than February 2025, representing a decrease of $113,751.
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 February 2026, net use tax collections decreased by 46.34%, for a total of $134,468.
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 Sarah Briones, Deputy Finance Director, or call 970-871-7049
Email Michael Lane, Marketing & Communications Manager, or call 970-871-8220