Sales tax revenues to Barry County cities and the county logged a major rebound in February, erasing significant declines in January.
The seven Barry County cities collecting sales tax received $887,253.20, up 12% from a year ago, with the biggest generators carrying the load.
Cassville’s 1% sales tax for its general fund produced $127,639.20, up $22,900.58, or 22%, for a new February record, up 44% from five years ago. That represented a gain of more than $13,000 over the start of 2024, wiping out the $9,200 dip in January.
Even Monett, which has seen its use tax drain away sales tax totals, saw a hefty bounce. That city’s two sales taxes at 1% paying general bills generated $233,474.28, up $19,816.56 from last February. That was also a new record for the month. It left a gain of more than $500 so far in 2025.
Seligman’s 1% general fund tax yielded $13,587.68, up $818.55 from a year ago, also a February record. Wiping out the red ink in January, Seligman’s general fund so far has topped 2024’s pace by nearly $300.
Exeter saw its 1% sales tax top $4,000 for the first time in five months. That tax added $4,586.55 to city coffers, up $1,173.44 or 34% from a year ago. The 2025 total has outpaced last year by 40% so far.
Purdy’s 1% sales tax brought in $5,091.44 for the month, down $862.47 from last February. It was the fourth drop in five months. That put the 2025 total down 23% from last year’s pace.
Washburn’s 1% tax fell just short of last February, bringing in $5,009.01 from the month, down by $145.15. It was the fifth consecutive monthly drop in receipts. Washburn’s 2025 general fund total is down by $634.19.
Wheaton’s 1% sales tax generated $4,695.81, down $2,307.46 from last February but slightly more than two years ago. For the year, Wheaton’s general fund receipts are down by 11%. The city’s half-cent sales tax from transportation fell into its old pattern, producing only 45% of the one-cent, something that only happens in Wheaton.
Countywide taxes also saw a significant rebound but not quite enough to make up for a poor January. The county’s two sales taxes for its general fund brought in $305,646.56, a gain of $19,128.86 from a year ago, but $1,556.45 below the January shortfall. The county’s use tax came up at nearly half of last February, not helping to make up the difference.
The separate .375% sales tax supporting 911 and central dispatching services pulled in $183,386.75, up $11,476.45 or 7%, nearly erasing the January drop. The 2025 sum to date is $933.84 below last year’s pace.
