May 20, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Hosting the Olympics was not a big money-maker for Utah, tax reports show.
Tax revenues increased only 0.07 percent between February 2001 and February 2002, a difference of about $200,000.
People were drinking and smoking more. Wine and liquor sales were up 16.5 percent in February. Cigarette tax collections were up 50 percent. They weren't driving much, however. Motor fuel taxes were down by 32 percent, compared to the previous year.
March was a hangover. Collections dropped by 10 percent -- about $68 million -- compared to March 2001.
Still, organizers said they consider the Winter Olympics a success.
"Without the Olympics, state revenues would have been very likely significantly down in February," said Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Fraser Bullock.
