For the fourth straight month, sales tax receipts for the City of Guthrie fell below last year’s numbers. However, the use tax more than doubled for the month of February.
“Combined sales and use tax the City has collected roughly $83,000 less this budget year as compared to the same five months of fiscal year 17-2018,” City Manager Leroy Alsup said.
“While it is not what we would like to see, it is a manageable number.”
The City collected $503,555.88 in sales tax revenue in February, which is minus 6.46 percent ($34,759.41) when compared to last February.
For the five months of the current fiscal year (October through February) the cumulative sales tax revenue is down $183,531.53 or minus 6.51 percent as compared to the same five months of the prior fiscal year.
City officials explained they have fallen 7.45 percent, or $212,266, below projection.
The City’s use tax continues to remain positive.
February’s revenue was up $40,756.16, or 100.19 percent, as compared to last February. In total, the tax brought in $81,433.80 for the month.
For the five months of the current fiscal year (October through February) the cumulative use tax revenue is up $100,403.13 or 59.43 percent, as compared to the same five months of the prior fiscal year.
Live in Guthrie, have to be in OKC at least once a week. Buying groceries in Edmond where the tax rate is 8.25% vs the 9% here. Down there anyway so may as well save some money, right? And it’s only going to get worse. The more people who say “Hey I spend 500 a month on groceries so do I want to pay 45 in sales tax or 41.25?”