Lamar Sales Tax Posts Healthy Close for 2012

Lamar City Sales Tax revenue continued its upward momentum as 2012 closed out with a 5.96% gain on Total Sales and Use Tax collections for the month of November.  Year to Date figures for combined Total Sales and Use Tax collections were also up with a 3.61% gain for a difference of $116,385.29 over 2011.  Revenues for 2012 were at $3,343,747.12 compared to 2011 at $3,227,361.83.  These figures are for November taxes collected in December 2012. 

Three of twelve retail sales categories showed a year to date drop for taxes collected between January through December of 2012.  The three that showed a decline in sales tax revenue were: Furniture/Appliance/Electronics; Manufacturing and Other Retail. 

The following are dollar amounts for the twelve retail trade categories for the past three years:   

                                                  2010          2011             2012

Auto Parts                             135,064      140,676        145,481
Building Materials                104,473        94,204        113,245
Apparel                                    32,100        33,071         34,580
C Stores/Gas                            98,150      103,520       104,691
Department Stores              1,065,990   1,082,964    1,101,763
Furniture                                   27,022        28,124         24,457
Groceries                                255,448      296,978       285,243
Motels                                    115,992      133,702       160,513
Liquor/Bars                               96,851      102,031        110,698
Manufacturing                            2,273        10,071            8,192
Other Retail                              43,240        46,318          44,328
Restaurants                            324,482       326,324         339,553