Sales tax revenues

According to Al Norman, many cities have become too dependent on the idea that more retail equals more revenue, an idea that has failed to pan out. Witness Springfield's retail growth of recent years compared to its flat sales-tax revenue.

In the May 3 issue of SBJ, city Director of Finance Fred Fantauzzi said the flattening of sales tax revenues in Springfield has, in the past, been attributed to retail growth in the cities immediately outside Springfield, and he believed retail developments such as the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Nixa "hurt us somewhat."

In the same story, Mike MacPherson, Nixa city administrator, said Wal-Mart has "really been the big turnaround. Now people can buy things in Nixa they had to go to Springfield for before: shoes, clothing, other dry goods. Now you don't really have to drive to Springfield for anything