SALES TAX: COUNTY'S REVENUE INCREASES

JACKSON - Although it is too early to note any trends, Cape Girardeau County officials are generally pleased with the first three sales tax checks received for 1992.

After several years of good growth, the county's half-cent sales tax was flat in 1991, with a growth rate of just .28 percent. In 1990, the county's sales tax growth was 4.46 percent.

County Auditor H. Weldon Macke and Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep agreed Monday that early receipts are good, but cautioned it will take several more months before they will be optimistic about a good growth year.

"This certainly looks a lot better than we've seen lately," declared Macke.

After three months the county's receipts have been $821,100.65, an increase of 5.71 percent over the same period a year ago.

"It's too early to call it a trend yet, but we certainly hope it will be - only time will tell," said Huckstep.

The March check of $425,968.50 was more than double what was received in January and February combined, but Macke stressed the quarterly checks are usually quite a bit higher than other months.

"The majority of this check was quarterly sales and December sales not reported until Jan. 30," noted Macke. He said the March check includes all of the December retail sales, and indicates that many people delayed their Christmas shopping until December last year.

"I think this definitely shows that sales have picked up and hopefully it will continue to stay that way," said Macke.

Through the first three months of 1991 the county had received $776,762.78; and for the same period in 1990 collected $818,062.85.

"I hate to express a lot of optimism," said Huckstep, "because last year we had a couple of good months in the spring that gave us a sense of false security. I'm certainly happy with what I see, but don't view that as a reading for the year."

But Huckstep said there are some signals that the economy might be turning around and sales taxes receipts increasing.

"There are some signals there that maybe it will turn around," said Huckstep. He noted the opening of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau earlier this month could help increase sales. But, he said, it probably will not be reflected until the May sales tax check.

Last year, Cape County collected just over $3 million in sales tax money. Sales tax finances all of the county's general revenue budget.