Sales tax numbers are in for July, reflecting purchasing in May, and county and city officials believe the amounts have set records.
Baxter County Treasurer Jenay Mize says she almost shouted when she saw the amount.
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Mize has served as the county treasurer since 2013 and says the latest collections are the strongest she has seen during her tenure.
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Mize says she expressed her appreciation to the quorum court budget committee members in their mid-year meeting in July for actions taken placing the county on a strong footing during these challenging financial times. She specifically pointed to the increase to two mills on property taxes and to advancing to the voters the quarter-cent sales tax dedicated to the operation of the county jail, taking the pressure off county general.
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At the City of Mountain Home, Treasurer Marshella Norell says collections have to be the largest increase in several years, if not ever. Norell says these are phenomenal numbers, and she is still in shock and awe.
Sales tax receipts from the county were up over July 2019 by $29,517 or 15.72%. Year-to-date, collections are up $108,244 or 8.81%.
The city sales tax collected for July totaled $490,728, an increase of $63,899 or 14.97% from the same period in 2019.
Year-to-date the city’s sales tax is up $239,487 or 8.42% over last year.
The public safety sales tax was up for July 2020 over July 2019 by $23,962. This is a 14.97% increase. Year-to-date the public safety tax is up $89,807, which represents an 8.42% increase over the same period of 2019.
Norell notes while percentages are great, sometimes they are not a true reflection of the financial picture. She says you always need a positive percentage of growth, but the higher your numbers, the more you have to increase to reflect a higher growth percentage.
The Baxter County sales tax is divided among the county and the eight municipalities. In addition to Mountain Home, Gassville took in $36,275, Cotter received $16,933, Lakeview got $12,935, Norfork took in $8,920, Salesville received $7,855, Briarcliff got $4,119 and Big Flat took in $1,815.
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