City Sales Tax Revenue Improves

“We’ve had a good first quarter,” is how the Lamar city council described the latest city sales tax revenue report, showing a 6.51% improvement over last year. The dollar difference is slight, $17,119.21 for March, but it also shows a steady increase. Year-to-date figures also show growth at 5.96% for an increase of $62,356.46 over 2010 at this time. Of the 12 retail sales categories used by the city, only one, Building Materials indicated a downturn comparing January through March, 2010 against 2011.

All others… Auto Parts, Apparel, C Stores and Gas Stations, Department Stores, Furniture/Appliances/Electronics, Grocery Stores, Hotels & Motels, Liquor Stores and Drinking Establishments, Manufacturing, Restaurants and Other, showed increases. The most significant increase was Groceries, going from $64,194 last year to $81,844, year to date. Other noticeable increases showed up in Motels and Restaurants.

By Russ Baldwin