City’s sales tax check bests prior year

The Missouri Department of Revenue issued the city of Springfield a 1 percent sales tax check valued at $4.8 million for March.

The check, which is 12 percent higher than the same month a year ago, represents sales processed by the state in February from transactions made largely in January, according to a news release.

The city had budgeted $3.9 million for March, which is 24 percent below the actual check.

With the latest state general sales tax funding, the city has collected $33.8 million for its fiscal year, a 4 percent increase compared to the same period in fiscal 2015, according to the release.

City officials budgeted to be at $31.8 million at this point in the fiscal year, which is 6 percent below actual.

“We are happy to see strong revenues for March, but fluctuations in sales tax revenues from month to month are very normal. We determine our monthly budget by looking at the same month over a 10-year time span and also in the perspective of year-to-date figures,” Director of Finance Mary Mannix Decker said in the release.

Roughly 60 percent of the city’s general fund revenue comes from sales and use taxes. Sale taxes are the main source for vital services, including police and fire operations.