Published: February 06, 2009 10:08 am      

McAlester sees an $8K drop in sales tax disbursment

January tax collections from November sales were mixed among area towns as compared with last year, with McAlester’s falling to $1.32 million this year compared with $1.38 million a year ago.

The decrease comes as a quarter-cent tax expired that month.

“It is still a good month,” said Mayor Kevin Priddle, a banker, to challenge former city treasurer Steve Harrison’s contention the numbers forecast economic trouble in coming months.

“Note that for the first time this fiscal year, we failed to reach the level of the prior year, 96 percent,” Harrison had said. “This may be the first indicator that the recession has arrived locally.”

The January revenue tax disbursement report was released by the Oklahoma Tax Commission Jan. 30.

McAlester was one of several area communities reporting lower tax collections over the previous year. But more reported increased collections, some up sharply over the previous year. Alderson, for instance, enjoyed a 474.68 percent hike, collecting $11,143 compared with $1,939 in 2008.

Other increases were more modest.

In McAlester, the January decrease over the previous year definitely points to a “softening,” Priddle said.

“We have to make sure and spend any dollars we can to help the tax base grow and diversify.”



Here are the sales tax returns for area cities, towns and counties as reported by the state Tax Commission for January, as compared with January 2008.

City 2009 2008

Alderson $11,143 $1,939

Canadian $4,957 $5,523

Crowder $5,111 $4,531

Eufaula $148,335 $156,117

Haileyville $5,212 $4,328

Hartshorne $47,049 $39,223

Indianola $1,535 $975

Keota $7,928 $5,020

Kinta $1,212 $4,091

Kiowa $11,237 $24,431

Krebs $60,636 $58,127

McAlester $1,326,341 $1,380,960

Pittsburg $1,871 $3,738

Quinton $19,847 $15,082

Red Oak $12,062 $10,749

Savanna $9,182 $8,471

Stuart $4,821 $6,811

Talihina $43,099 $28,218

Whitefield $4,278 $2,022

Wilburton $106,289 $101,604



County 2008 2007

Latimer $284,987 $200,043

McIntosh $236,133 $193,021

Pittsburg $533,104 $441,764



Here are the use (mail order) tax returns for area cities, towns and counties as reported by the state Tax Commission for January, as compared with January 2008.

City 2009 2008

Alderson $11,437 $23,488

Canadian $5,758 $12,822

Crowder $264 $2,646

Eufaula $7,084 $5,474

Haileyville $206 $191

Hartshorne $35,593 $1,615

Kinta $781 $1,626

Kiowa $603 $2,991

Krebs $3,915 $9,415

McAlester .$00 $49,908

Quinton $834 $1,603

Red Oak $479 $479

Savanna $384 $351

Talihina $665 $00

Whitefield $209 $113

Wilburton $21,010 $15,379



County 2008 2007

Latimer $18,959 $30,177

McIntosh $8,592 $14,206

Pittsburg $29,367 $56,203

Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission