City’s sales taxes falter

The Missouri Department of Revenue issued the city of Springfield a 1 percent sales tax check for December that was 6 percent below the same month last year.

The December check totaled $3.9 million, according to a news release.

The latest check also was 10 percent below the city’s $4.4 million projection for the month.

With the December check, Springfield’s year-to-date total is $21.7 million, a 1 percent drop from the same time in 2015, according to the release. The city’s fiscal year began July 1.

City officials budgeted to be at $22.8 million through December. That’s 4 percent less than the actual figure.

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