City sales tax revenue jumps in May

General sales tax for the city of Springfield jumped more than 8 percent in May, city officials announced Friday.

The May sales tax check, which covers purchases in February and March, totaled $2.26 million, up 8.6 percent compared to May 2009. The increase means the city's general fund revenues are at $32.2 million, down 6.97 percent from the same period in fiscal 2009, which ends June 30.

The city has been able to keep a balanced budget due to quarterly budget adjustments since September 2009, along with an ongoing hiring freeze since the beginning of 2009, according to the city news release.

The city has slashed $1.3 million from department budgets this fiscal year as part of $4.9 million in total general fund cuts, according to past Springfield Business Journal coverage. Approximately 200 city positions, including 70 from the Police and Fire departments, remain unfilled.

The city has released its initial budget for fiscal 2011, which retains $715,000 in departmental cuts and anticipates a $3 million dip in sales tax revenues.[[In-content Ad]]