Joplin finance staff reports July sales tax dip, general fund still ahead of budget

Leslie Haas, a city finance staff member, told the Joplin City Council on July 21 that July 2025 sales-tax collections were “down almost 5 and a half percent” compared with July 2024, leaving the city essentially flat for the year.

Haas said use tax for July was up just over 10.5% and year-to-date use-tax receipts were up about 6.5%. She presented sector-level trends showing construction and home-improvement sales sharply down for the quarter, motor-vehicle sales weaker than a year ago, and discount and general retail slightly up. "People are not spending money, kind of holding on to it for various reasons," Haas said.

On the city’s general fund through June 30, Haas reported operating revenue beating budget by about $268,000 and operating expenditures coming in under budget by nearly $1.6 million. One-time revenues were ahead by about $81,000 and one-time expenditures were under budget by about $1.8 million, producing a favorable net position through June, she said.

Council member Coppell questioned an apparent anomaly in the slide that shows the 1% sales tax minus TIF payments being higher for the month than expected, noting a roughly $150,000 discrepancy month to month. Haas said she suspects timing and remittance lags for TIF payments and agreed to follow up and check the calculations.

Coppell also pressed on a personnel-services variance; Haas and Coppell agreed the negative variance (below budget) is likely driven by seasonal positions and vacancies, which reduce actual spending compared with budgeted amounts.

The presentation did not include formal council action; Haas moved on to the general-fund financials after questions. The council took no vote on tax policy or budget adjustments at the informal session.