RETAIL ENJOYS STEADY PROFITS; CITY AND COUNTY SALES TAX REVENUE CONTINUES TO RISE

Cape Girardeau County could be headed for another billion-dollar retail sales year.

The county's more than 470 retail establishments, headed by strong sales in furniture, appliances and family apparel, passed the billion-dollar annual sales milestone during the fiscal year that ended June 30, after flirting with it for five years.

With retail sales reports in for the first two quarters of 2000-2001, retail sales could top the billion-dollar mark again.

During the first half of the 2000-2001 calendar year (July 1 through Dec. 31), the county's retail sales topped the half-billion mark at $515,885,800.

Last year's figures keep Cape Girardeau in the top 10 Missouri counties for retail sales volume and means more sales tax dollars for local projects, primarily thanks to the county's status as a regional hub for shopping.

The numbers also translate into $14,918 in retail sales per county resident, topping the statewide average of $9,480 and the national average of $9,195 per capita.

As a regional shopping center, the Cape Girardeau area attracts frequent shoppers from a five-state area -- Southeast Missouri, Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Northern Arkansas and Western Tennessee.

"This is great news for Cape Girardeau County," said John Mehner, president and chief executive officer of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. "It proves what we already knew -- that our area is a regional center of commerce for customers throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois."

The county posted $1,085,687,400 in retail sales for the calendar year, July 1, 1999, through June 30, up from $998 million the prior fiscal year.

The city of Cape Girardeau posted $774.5 million in retail sales during fiscal year 1999-2000, up from $658 million in 1998.

The county's offerings include 130 clothing stores, 54 gasoline stations, 60 motor vehicle and parts dealers, 30 auto dealers, 42 furniture and home furnishings stores, and 15 grocery markets -- most of them in the city of Cape Girardeau. City shoppers typically pay 6.725 percent in sales tax at the register, but the amount is different for groceries and restaurant meals.

Among top in sales

The county has ranked among the top 10 counties in overall retail sales the past three years, according to figures provided by the Missouri Department of Economics.

St. Louis County continues to record the top retail sales, at more than $12 billion annually, but the large population of the county limited the per capita average to about $10,000.

Because of the high per capita figure, Cape County residents enjoy the benefits of more sales tax revenue.

The city received more than $7.7 million from its share of retail sales taxes during the past year -- about half the general fund budget, said city finance director John Richbourg. Over the past five years, the city has received more than $35 million, ranging from $6.5 million in 1996 to $7.4 million in 1999.

Counting 1990 figures, the city coffers have received about $75.5 million during the past 11 years.

Retail sales have almost doubled in the city during the 1990s, from $481 million, to more than $774 million during the past calendar year.

The county, which receives less money from retail taxes, topped the $5 million mark for the first time this year, said county auditor H. Weldon Macke. That represents 40 percent of the county's budget.

The county tax share is 0.5 percent on the overall total.

In 1990, the county received slightly more than $3 million in taxes. The county topped the $4 million mark in 1995 and $5 million last year.

Retail sales important

Retail sales are important to Cape Girardeau.

The businesses involved in sales employ about 6,000 people and have an annual payroll of more than $88 million.

Not to confuse people on the per capita average, this does not mean county residents spend more than $1 billion on retail sales.

"Being a regional hub, we see buyers from a wide area, " Mehner said.

Retail sales are also important to governmental budgets.

The county's increase in sales tax revenues this year would be up nearly 7 percent from last year, Macke said.

The county has received more than $9.6 million the past two years, with $4.8 million in 1999 and $4.7 in 1998.

"And, we haven't had a property tax in 15 years," said presiding county commissioner Gerald Jones "We depend on the sales tax for a big portion of our budget."

Cape city sales tax revenue 2000 $7.7 million

1999 $7.4 million

1998 $7.3 million

1997 $6.8 million.

1996 $6.6 million.

1995 $6.5 million.

1994 $6.0 million.

1993 $5.4 million.

1992 $5.0 million.

1991 $4.8 million.

1990 4.8 million.

Constitutes about 50 percent of city general fund.

County sales tax revenue Cape Girardeau County

2000 $5.1 million

1999 $4.8 million

1998 $4.7 million

1997 $4.4 million

1996 $4.2 million

1995 $4.1 million

1994 $3.8 million

1993 $3.5 million

1992 $3.2 million

1991 $3.1 million

1990 $3.1 million

Constitutes about 40 percent of county budget.

Total retail sales in county Year County City

2000 1 billion $775.5 million.

1999 $998 million $740 million.

1998 $940 million $730 million.

1997 $880 million $682 million.

1996 $850 million $658 million.

1995 $820 million $651 million.

1994 $780 million $599 million.

1993 $690 million $537 million.

1992 $644 million $506 million.

1991 $613 million $.477 million.

1990 $611 million $481 million.