Sales tax revenues to Barry County cities and the county government in November closely matched disbursements from the Missouri Department of Revenue a year ago, with a couple odd twists.
Income to cities rose, while countywide sales tax revenues fell, the opposite of what happened in the June distribution, with the same overall result.
The seven Barry County cities collecting sales tax received $749,400.90, up 4% from a year ago. Cassville and Seligman led the charge, while smaller cities saw losses and Monett’s sums turned jumbled and contrary.
Cassville saw its 1% tax supporting its general fund generate $105,682.41, up $10,624.87, or 11%, from a year ago, a sharp rebound after the 26% drop in October. Cassville’s general fund receipts have risen in eight of the last nine months, putting the year’s total up by nearly $88,000, or 7%, over 2023. Counting Cassville’s use tax, which only had four months of collections by this point last year, total income from Cassville’s taxes is up this year by almost 12%.
Seligman’s 1% tax paying general bills produced $13,597.17, a gain of $1,948.66 over last November. It was the fourth gain in five months, putting the year’s sum up nearly $14,000 above last year’s pace.
Exeter saw its general fund 1% sales tax top $3,000 for the fourth time in five months, bringing in $3,338.32, though that was down $429.81 from last November. That pushed Exeter’s 2024 total up nearly 26% above last year’s pace.
Washburn’s taxes continued a downward spiral, the fourth time in five months. Its 1% tax paying general bills received $3,336.28, down $946.51 from a year ago. However, Washburn’s use tax boosted 2024 income from all taxes by more than $16,000, or 17%, above 2023.
Wheaton’s two sales taxes fell in the expected proportions in November, unusual for that city when the half-cent tax generally brings in less than half of the one-cent tax. Wheaton’s general fund tax delivered $5,364.41 into city coffers, down $606.63 from last November. Counting its use tax, now in its eighth month, Wheaton’s tax revenues for the year are up by nearly $500.
Monett’s two taxes collecting for its general fund at 1% yielded $199,671.10, a drop of $21,401.01 from a year ago, the seventh drop in eight months as revenues continue to shift to the city’s use tax. Revenues to Monett’s other three taxes all rose, which looked even more odd in light of the tax for the aquatic center receiving half of what it should have a year ago. Consequently, adding all five of Monett’s taxes together showed a net gain for the month of $5,626.78.
With revenues from Monett’s use tax having more than doubled from a year ago, overall, the combined totals from all Monett’s sales taxes and its use tax showed a gain of nearly $271,600, or 5%, rather than a drop of almost $133,000 in the general fund.
Countywide taxes trended downward.
The two .5% sales taxes supporting the county’s general fund and road maintenance each brought in more than $232,324. The general fund half-cent tax dipped by $12,315.82, the others falling by slightly less. It was the third drop of more than $10,000 in four months. However, counting its use tax, Barry County’s receipts for the year are up by more than $715,000, or 7.5%.
The separate .375% sales tax supporting 911 and central dispatching that goes to the Emergency Services Board followed the same trend. That tax brought in $174,227.97, down $9,247.48 from last November. For the year, revenues are up by less than 1%.
