11/27/18 – 10:49 A.M.

A one-time tax payment was behind a sudden jump in sales and use tax collections in Hancock County in November. The auditor’s office says someone made a $340,000 audit payment during the period reported this month. That helped lead to a 35 percent increase in sales tax collections compared to November of 2017.

For the year, Hancock County has seen $14.2 million in sales and use tax collections. That’s compared to 13.8 million through 11 months of 2017, representing a more than 3.4 percent increase. Sales tax collections had been flat through October.

November sales tax numbers reflect sales made three months ago.