Rigs cause increase in area sales tax

By Susan Brittingham
Features Editor

January 15, 2008 12:30 pm

— Drilling rigs are popping up all over the area, causing an increase in tax disbursements for December.
The town of Calvin received $2,999 in use tax disbursements, compared to only $110 for this time last year.
In sales tax disbursements, the difference was striking. Calvin received $26,188, up from $4,034.
Even more striking is Alderson, where a stretch of U.S. Highway 270 is home to many oil and gas companies, which received a check for $12,287 from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Last year the town only received $860 in use tax disbursement.
Across the state, the use tax disbursement of $7,484,122 was distributed between 338 cities and towns.
In county returns, the use tax disbursement of $1,575,297 was distributed between 65 counties.
Use tax money comes from purchases made outside the state. It includes items bought from retailers who don’t collect state sales tax. Purchasers are responsible for paying use taxes on out-of-state purchases, according to the OTC.
Use tax disbursements for area towns and cities, compared to December 2006:
• Alderson: $12,287.02, up from $860.23
• Allen: $1,224.21, up from $628.62
• Atoka: $5,963.42, up from $4,613.34
• Calvin: $2,999.29, up from $110.93
• Canadian: $2,885.73, up from $1,796.36
• Coalgate: $3,743.77, up from $146.36
• Crowder: $171.18, up from $115.43
• Eufaula: $8,894.92, up from $4,113.64
• Haileyville: $183.64, up from $137.18
• Hartshorne: $1,317.34, up from $721.87
• Kiowa: $1,667.47, up from $1,525.20
• McAlester: $35,479.06, down from $52,478.41
• Quinton: $719.75, down from $1,369.63
• Savanna: $137.62, down from $164.46
• Stigler: $17,143.45, up from $4,891.79
• Wilburton: $18,094.03, down from $29,115.40
Use tax disbursements for area counties:
• Atoka County: $16,069.99, up from $6,333.54
• Haskell County: $14,393.30, up from $10,557.48
• Latimer County: $33,154.92, up from $30,536.09
• McIntosh County: $19,733.67, up from $5,550.82
• Pittsburg County: $38,056.17, up from $22,884.64
Contact Susan Brittingham at 421-2029 or e-mail sbrittingham@mcalesternews.com.