Sales tax revenue to bi-county cities and county governments broke the pattern in July of rather consistent growth that followed the COVID pandemic.
Despite stronger city performance, countywide taxes in Barry County took a downturn.
The seven Barry County cities collecting sales tax received $799,872.32 from the same taxes collected a year ago, an increase of 5 percent. Only Seligman and Wheaton failed to best last July’s sums.
Cassville put in one of the strongest showings of the month, receiving $112,226.82 for its general fund, a gain of $5,206.83 over last July. That broke two consecutive months of drops. Cassville’s general fund receipts continue at $150,000 higher than a year ago.
Exeter’s 1 percent sales tax provided $2,197.71 to pay general bills, up $333.65 from a year ago. It was the sixth gain in seven months for Exeter, though most have been similarly modest, amounting to a gain of more than $2,000 over last year’s pace.
Washburn’s 1 percent tax produced $2,849.68, up $417.15 from last July. It was Washburn’s fourth consecutive monthly increase, and the new Dollar General store there has bumped up sales tax receipts by almost 50 percent.
Seligman saw a similar sized increase. Its 1 percent sales tax for its general fund generated $12,361.54, a drop of $516.88 from a year ago. It was the fourth drop in seven months for Seligman, leaving its general fund ahead of last year by less than $100.
Wheaton’s erratic sales tax payments made less sense than usual in July, delivering less than half the amount provided a year ago. The city’s 1 percent general fund tax raised $2,930.05, down $3,615.82, or 55 percent, from a year ago. Receipts from the city’s .5 percent tax for transportation dropped by 60 percent. It was the third drop in Wheaton’s general fund this year, though the 2022 sum has outpaced last year by more than $7,000.
Purdy started its new fiscal year with its 1 percent sales tax for paying general bills yielding $8,317.25, a seven-year July high, up $2,717.61, or almost 49 percent, above last July to start a new fiscal year. It was only the third gain this calendar year, but enough to boost city coffers for 2022 by more than $4,500 from this time a year ago.
Monett’s two sales taxes supporting the general fund had their best July showing in four years, generating $214,281.23, up $14,089.66, or 7 percent, from a year ago. With receipts up in three of the four months in the city’s new fiscal year, the sales taxes raised the general fund tally to $849,892.70, nearly $70,000 ahead of last year’s pace.
For 2022, Monett’s general fund sum is ahead by more than $56,000.
Usually, countywide taxes follow the trend of the municipal performance, but Barry County saw a different result in July. Its two .5 percent taxes for paying general bills and maintaining roads each took in more than $214,272. For the general fund, that represented a drop of $17,656.85, or 8 percent. It was the third drop in five months for the county taxes, though general fund revenues remain up by more than $90,000.
Barry County’s .375 percent tax produced $160,848.32, down $13,068.27 from last July. The 2022 sum is still $70,000 ahead of last year’s pace.
