Rogers receives second-higest sales-tax revenue in its history
Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008
ROGERS — The city’s most recent sales-tax numbers have left Rogers officials at a loss for explanations but not for money.
How do you explain, during rough economic times, a 16. 48-percent increase over last year’s numbers ?
Rogers’ November salestax revenue, based on spending in September, came in at $ 1. 12 million — not only the largest percentage boost this year, but also the secondhighest amount in the city’s history, said city treasurer Jerry Hudlow.
November’s take came in slightly behind that of February’s total of $ 1. 16 million — boosted by last year’s Christmas sales — and beat out the previous No. 2, a $ 1. 11 million amount set in February 2007 from the Christmas sales from 2006.
The second highest amount, and it doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas spending ?
“ September is not really known for being one of the stronger months of the year, ” Hudlow said. “ You take what you can get and be happy for it. ”
Hudlow said gas prices in September were only starting to drop, but they were still high, leaving him with no explanation for the remarkable increase.
Mayor Steve Womack said the city “ couldn’t be happier, ” but he’s not basing any future spending on what could be a fluke.
“ In this economy, it’s kind of month to month, ” Womack said. “ We’re not reading anything into this. ”
Beyond the single-month revenue, this month’s totals have the whole year looking up. Hudlow said the total sales tax revenue is up about $ 727, 000 so far this year over the first 11 months of 2007. It’s a 7. 02-percent increase when Hudlow only projected three percent. It leaves the city in good shape to reach the $ 12 million in total sales tax revenue Hudlow projected for 2008.
“ If we have just a decent month for October sales that we get next month, we’re going to make budget, ” Hudlow said. “ And I anticipate making budget. ”
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