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Mayor reports December sales-tax gains, monthly average at $957,000
Summary
At a Budget Personnel Committee meeting the mayor reported December sales-tax and use-tax receipts that the city said brought the fiscal-year monthly average to about $957,000, described reporting lags and cautioned against premature spending.
The Budget Personnel Committee heard a financial report in which the mayor said December sales-tax receipts were $31,009.80 higher than the previous period and that the city’s fiscal-year monthly sales-tax average stands at about $957,000.
The mayor told the committee the use tax for the month was “just under a hundred and 80 thousand,” and that combined sales and use tax receipts for the month were about $1,092,535.35, placing the month among the top three of the fiscal year. "We're still seeing good numbers even though we're fluctuating back and forth," the mayor said.
The mayor also described a reporting lag: financial reports typically arrive about 48 to 50 days after the close of the month, and staff member Laurie worked late to bring December records up to date. "With those numbers coming through for December, that catches us up," the mayor said.
City officials cautioned the committee against interpreting the stronger receipts as permission to increase spending. The mayor said the city has seen revenue improvements — including $105,000 received so far from a school contract — but added, "We will not be out of the clear this fiscal year," and urged continued restraint and monitoring of expenses.
The mayor reported on a recent municipal conference in Oklahoma City where mayors discussed municipal finance and concerns about state sales-tax exemptions. The mayor said the conference included discussion of possible state-level reporting or auditing of exemptions to measure revenue losses to cities.
