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Joplin financial update: sales tax down 9.8% though preliminary year shows modest net gain
Summary
City staff told the council December sales-tax receipts (for October sales) fell 9.8% from last year, but preliminary October-through-November results show operating revenue above budget and a preliminary net gain of about $116,000 amid $3.3 million in rolled encumbrances; final figures await year-end accruals in January and February.
Leslie Haas, a city staff member, told the Joplin City Council on Dec. 15 that December sales-tax receipts (for October sales) were down 9.8% compared with the same month last year. "In fact, we were down, 9.8%," Haas said, noting the drop will place the city below the amended 2025 budget by roughly $120,000 after accounting for timing and accrual entries.
Haas said use-tax receipts were strong: up 22.4% for the month and about 18.6% year to date. Marijuana-tax receipts were near a typical month but exceeded budget, a difference she attributed to timing shifts between December and January in the prior year.
The staff presentation covered preliminary October and November financials. Haas said preliminary operating revenue exceeded the amended budget by about $525,000 while operating expenditures were roughly $635,000 under budget. One-time revenue through the period was reported about $930,000 above budget, producing a preliminary net gain of approximately $116,000. Staff also reported roughly $3.3 million in rolled encumbrances, which Haas described as largely timing-related.
Council member Carlin asked whether unspent money from the prior year had been moved into reserves and pressed how the city will address current over-budget spending in some categories. Haas said some accruals and invoices (franchise tax, grants and other items) remain to be posted and that final results should be clearer after year-end closing, with some items not known until January and February. She added that certain capital purchases, such as ordered fire trucks, are intended to be charged to fund balance.
The city will continue to finalize accruals and close the fiscal year in January; staff indicated additional adjustments could change the preliminary position. No formal action was taken at the informal session.
Next steps: staff will complete year-end accruals and return final fiscal-year figures after the formal close of accounts in January and as outstanding invoices post in February.
