Texas County sales were bucking a nationwide slowdown late in 2008, according to a report from the Missouri Department of Revenue. Three sales taxes collected by retailers were all up in the last part of the year, figure show.
Revenue from a half-cent sales tax totaled $79,192, which was up $8,081 from a year ago. For the year $945,971 was collected. That’s nearly identical to the previous year.
Retailers also collect two other half-cent sales tax earmarked for debt repayment on bonds associated with the county justice center and general operations. Each contributed about $79,000. Between the two, about $1.89 million was collected in 2008- nearly identical to 2007, the state agency reported.
The reports are considered a good barometer of economic activity in the region.
The Missouri Department of Revenue reported sales tax revenue increased during the latest monthly distribution in Houston.
The tally from a one-cent sales tax was $55,520, which was an increase of $1,936 from the same period a year ago. For the year, the total was $641,982, which was up $15,792 from 2007, the department said.
Local merchants also collect two quarter-cent sales taxes for street and sidewalk needs. Each totaled about $13,050. That’s up about $330 from a year ago. For the year, the total was more than $154,000 each, up about $3,000 on each.
Revenue from an eighth-cent sales tax for retirement of fire truck debt was $6,527. For the year, the total was $77,216, an increase of $1,635 for the year.