Cape Girardeau County, cities see slight uptick in sales tax revenue over 2009

Sales tax collections are up slightly throughout Cape Girardeau County compared to last year. Both the county and Cape Girardeau saw a 2 percent increase in sales tax collections from January through October of this year compared to the same period 2009. Jackson saw sales tax revenue rise slightly, 0.3 percent, for the same period.

"The Cape County numbers are pretty close to what is happening nationwide: modest improvement in retail sales," said Bruce Domazlicky, director of the Center for Economic and Business Research at Southeast Missouri State University.

So far this year, Cape Girardeau County has collected $5,302,089 in general sales taxes and $5,299,282 in Proposition 1 sales taxes that fund law enforcement and road projects.

Cape Girardeau has collected $20,443,589 in general fund and sales taxes for specific funds for transportation, sewer, water, fire protection and parks and storm-water projects.

Jackson collected $2,501,214 in general sales tax and transportation sales tax through October of this year.

Earlier this month, state budget director Linda Luebbering announced that Missouri's state sales tax collections are behind by nearly 2 percent from last year.

"The state numbers are still not very good," Domazlicky said. "The Division of Budget and Planning is forecasting sales tax revenue to be virtually flat in the current fiscal year and that may be optimistic. So they are not looking for much change in retail sales."

The addition of well-known retailer T.J. Maxx, which opened Sunday in the Cape West Centre on Siemers Drive, will likely give local sales tax collections a boost, said John Mehner, CEO of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

"When you can add a new destination-type store, which that is, then that will do two things: Bring additional people from this region that like to shop there that were going to St. Louis and keep people who live in this area shopping in this area to keep more of those local dollars here," Mehner said.

Existing local retailers are cautiously optimistic about future sales, Mehner said.

"There is still concern because of how important the holiday season is for retailers bottom line," Mehner said.

Part of that concern comes from unemployment rates that don't seem to budge. Unemployment in Cape Girardeau County has remained above 7 percent since June.

"Unemployment is still high, and many consumers are not really in the mood or have the wherewithal to consider significant increases in their holiday spending," Domazlicky said.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent addresses:

101 Court St., Jackson, MO

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1 Barton Square, Cape Girardeau, MO