Sales tax check down for Cape, up for Jackson, county

Cape Girardeau's July sales tax check was down $38,211 from a year ago, but the checks received by the city of Jackson and Cape Girardeau County this month are up slightly, officials said.

The sales tax checks from the state of Missouri reflect sales from May, said John Richbourg, Cape Girardeau city finance director.

"Retail sales have been flat for about two years now," said Bruce Domazlicky, a Southeast Missouri State University economist who keeps tabs on the region's economic health.

The city of Cape Girardeau received $1.21 million in its July sales tax check. The money comes from four sales taxes that total 2 cents on every dollar spent.

Richbourg said the city's sales tax revenue is running about half a percent behind last year through the first half of this calendar year.

Cape Girardeau County's sales tax check this month was $451,850, up from $446,891 a year ago. The county revenue comes from a half-cent sales tax.

To date, the county has received $3.18 million in sales tax revenue, up $68,951 over the same period a year ago, said county Auditor David Ludwig.

The city of Jackson reported receiving $247,936 in its July check, up $20,398 from the July 2002 check. Jackson has two sales taxes totaling 1.5 cents.

For the first seven months of this year, sales tax revenue is down over $34,000, Jackson city officials said.