Tax revenue collected by the merchants in Houston and Texas County saw a jump, according to the latest data released by the Missouri Department of Revenue.
In Houston, the tally from a one-cent sales tax was $39,543. That’s up $20,662 from the same period a year ago. For the first four months of the year, the total is $203,355, which is up $25,545 from the same period a year ago.
Two eighth-cent sales tax – for streets and sidewalks, as well as utilities – generated about $9,671 each. That’s up $5,321 on each. For the year, the total is $48,501, which is up $6,307 from a year ago.
An eighth-cent sales tax for debt repayment on a fire truck totaled $4,825. For the year, $24,173 has been generated at cash registers.
The reports are considered a good barometer of economic activity.
In Texas County, three one-half cent sales taxes generated $60,979 each. The April check was enough to turn around the year-to-date tally. For the year, each has netted about $300,000. That’s now up about $5,000 from a year ago on each tax.