The generally predictable summer slump in sales tax revenues surfaced in August as income to Barry County cities and county governments dipped overall by 5% from a year ago.

Barry County’s seven cities collecting sales tax took in $812,010.58 in August, down 3% from a year ago.

Cassville was the only city topping last August’s totals, with $123,031.53 coming into its general fund from its 1% tax, up $6,428.19 from a year ago. It was the sixth consecutive monthly gain for Cassville, putting the 2024 sum ahead of last year’s pace by 6%.

Seligman’s 1% general fund tax received $13,874.50, down $2,570.20, the second drop in five months. Seligman’s general fund sum for 2024 has topped last year’s pace by 3%.

Purdy’s 1% tax paying general bills yielded $7,766.85, down $1,242.16, the second consecutive drop after two months of gains. For the year, Purdy’s general fund receipts are up nearly 3%.

Exeter’s 1% tax receipts topped $3,000 for the third time in four months, but was still down $798.03 from last August. Sales tax income for the year in Exeter are up 35%.

Washburn’s 1% sales tax for general bills generated $3,307.33, down $324.16 from a year ago, the second consecutive dip. Compared to 2023, Washburn’s receipts are down by 13%.

Wheaton’s contrary sales tax collections saw its 1% tax produce $6,093.06, down $510.05 from last August, the fifth consecutive monthly drop. The sum was 7% more than double the half-cent tax, a typical disparity not shown in any other bi-county city. Wheaton’s 2024 general fund sum is down more than 12% from a year ago. Receipts from Wheaton’s .5% transportation tax are down by 45%.

Monett produced $203,540.73 from its two sales taxes at 1% paying general bills, a drop of $15,899.23 or 7%, the second drop in four months. Monett’s general fund revenues are down by 4% for 2024, but adding in the city’s use tax income, which goes into the general fund, income from Monett’s five active sales taxes plus the use tax is up by more than 8%.

Countywide, Barry County’s two taxes at .625% collected for the general fund took in $312,297.29 for the month, down $20,471.92 or 6% from last August. Not counting the use tax, Barry County’s sales tax receipts combined are up by almost 2% for the year.

The separate .375% tax going to the Barry County Emergency Services Board to fun 911 and central dispatching produced $187,377.57, down $12,297.05, also putting the year’s total 2% under last year’s pace.