City’s latest sales tax check indicates sluggish holiday sales

The city of Springfield’s February sales tax check from the Missouri Department of Revenue was better than the previous year but worse than officials’ projections.

For February, the 1 percent general sales tax check from the state was $3.1 million, a 5 percent increase from the same month a year earlier. Officials had budgeted $3.2 million for the month, but the actual figure was 4 percent lower than expected, according to a news release.

The February tax check represents sales processed by the state in January from transactions made primarily in December.

With the latest check, fiscal 2017 collections through February totaled $28.87 million, a slight dip from $28.93 million at the same time in fiscal 2016. City officials projected to be at $29.8 million through February. The city’s fiscal year started July 1, according to the release.

The city relies on sales tax revenues as its main source for such vital service as police and fire operations. Roughly 60 percent of Springfield’s general fund comes from sales and use taxes, according to the release.