COUNTY SALES TAX SEES GROWTH

All that Christmas shopping in Cape Girardeau County over the past couple months has helped push sales tax receipts for the year well over last year's totals.

The county ends 1998 with a 7.1 percent increase in sales tax from 1997 sales tax collections.

In 1998, sales tax receipts totalled $4.78 million. In 1997, the sales tax total was $4.44 million.

County Auditor H. Weldon Macke said the year was one of steady growth in the sales tax figures. Each month, except October, saw an increase from the corresponding month a year ago.

December's sales tax receipt, which reflects sales in October and December, totalled $570,171, which is $32,032 more than was received in December a year ago.

Some businesses pay sales taxes quarterly. Others pay it monthly, and businesses have 30 days after the end of the month to send payment of sales taxes.

As a result, taxes from Christmas sales made in December may not arrive in county coffers until March.

Sales tax revenues are particularly important in Cape Girardeau County because this money represents a large percentage of the county budget.

Cape Girardeau County has had no property tax since 1982. It depends on sales taxes and fees to fund county operations.

Over the decade, sales taxes have consistently increased, but not always at the same rate.

This fluctuation in sales tax money is based on changes in the local economy, specifically on spending patterns.

From 1993 to 1994, for example, the county experienced a 10.7 percent increase in sales tax money. The following year, from 1994 to 1995, the county had a 9.1 percent increase.

But from 1995 to 1996, the county had just a 1.98 percent increase.

"We try to build in a 3 to 5 percent increase in the budget for sales taxes," Macke said, "but we never know. If we have a year like we did in 1996 when it doesn't go up as much, it means we have to cut back."