Sales tax revenue in the Black Hills was up during this year's Sturgis rally despite reports of low vehicle traffic, according to the state Department of Revenue.

In the Northern Hills, which includes Sturgis, sales and tourism tax revenues from temporary vendors tallied $862,107, according to a state news release.

That's up $100,778 from last year's total of $761,329.

In the Southern Hills, which includes Rapid City, tax revenues from vendors totaled $189,420, up $59,010 over 2008.

A portion of the higher total can be attributed to the increase in South Dakota's tourism tax, which was raised July 1 to 1.5 percent from 1 percent, according to the release. Revenue will continue to be collected over the next few weeks.

Earlier this month, the Department of Transportation reported that vehicle traffic in and out of Sturgis decreased 2.8 percent over 2008.

The DOT's electric traffic counters at eight entrances to Sturgis tallied 394,009 vehicles for the seven official days of the rally, Aug. 3-9.

The 2009 total was the lowest since counters tallied 386,490 vehicles in 1996, according to a report by The Associated Press.