City’s sales tax revenue check misses the mark

The city of Springfield’s August sales tax check from the Missouri Department of Revenue was down compared with the prior year and officials’ prediction for the month.

The 1 percent general sales tax check for August was $2.48 million, a 1.3 percent decrease from $2.51 million in the same month of fiscal 2016. It also was nearly 2 percent lower than the city’s $2.52 million projection for the month, according to a news release.

Two months into fiscal 2017, the city’s tax revenue collections through August are $6.46 million. That’s roughly 8 percent lower than the prior year and the city’s projection.

The August sales tax check represents sales processed by the state in July from transactions made mostly in June, according to the release.

Sales tax revenue funds core city services such as police and fire operations. In Springfield, roughly 60 percent of the city’s general fund revenue comes from sales and use taxes.