JACKSON EYES RECORD YEAR FOR SALES TAX

JACKSON, Mo. -- The city of Jackson likely will hit the $100 million mark in retail sales a month earlier this year than in 2000.

And with September and December, two of the biggest retail months of the year, still ahead, the city could have its highest retail sales year ever.

More than $97 million in sales were recorded during the first seven months of 2001, up from $93 million during the same period a year ago.

Retail sales have been increasing for Jackson over the past few years, from $118 million in 1997 to more than $156 million last year.

This translates into a bigger budget for the city of Jackson, which receives one percent of the total for its city coffers and a half-percent as a transportation sales tax.

Last year, the city received $1,563,960 as its share of the retail sales tax and $750,891 in transportation sales taxes.

Both totals were highs for Jackson and delighted city officials.

"These totals represent about 15 percent of the city's budgeting," said Mary Waller, Jackson city clerk and treasurer.

"This is all good news," said Paul Sander, Jackson mayor, who said the city was making big efforts to expand commercially. "The transportation sales tax, which was passed here in 1987, provides funds for city streets. Those funds are earmarked solely for road and street improvements."

The retail sales tax can be used for the general fund.

"The building climate has been helpful to the city," said Sander. "It has resulted in big retailers, like Wal-Mart, Buchheit, Country Mart, McDowell South Inc. and a number of others."

The growth has extended to residences as well. More than 700 new homes have been constructed during the past six years.

"We don't want to become a bedroom community," said Sander. "We want to provide jobs and places to shop for the people who live here. So far, we've been successful in doing that."

The city had received $973,529 as its share of sales tax through July and is expected to top the million dollar mark when August totals are in. The retail sales tax receipts have been increasing from 10 to 15 percent a year since 1997, said Sander.

Jim Roach, Jackson city administrator, agreed the retail sector has shown growth the past five years. Retail sales got a big boost in early 1996 following the opening of the giant, 46,000-square-foot Country Mart grocery store in December of 1995. A year and a half later, in September of 1997, McDowell South Inc., an auto dealer, opened.

Over the past two years, retail sales have soared following the opening of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in April 1999 and Buchheit in February 2000.

Since then, Jackson's share of sales taxes has soared from $1.25 million in 1998 to $1.42 million in 1999 to $1.56 million in 2000.

Coming up is a 12,000-square-foot retail strip by Klein Group L.L.C., to be located near the Wal-Mart store on Jackson Boulevard.

Buchheit opened its new 110,000-square-foot store, near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 61. It is "doing well," said manager Peter Rabbitt.

Jackson taxes

Jackson retail sales taxes

1997 $1,177,053

1998 $1,256,360

1999 $1,421,826

2000 $1,563,960

2001 $973,529 (7 months)

Jackson transportation sales taxes

1997 $559,201

1998 $597,873

1999 $679,696

2000 $750,891

2001 $470,013 (7 months)