By Susan Brittingham
Features Editor
March 07, 2008 11:36 am
—
Zero.
That is exactly how much use tax money the city of Crowder received from the Oklahoma Tax Commission this month.
Use tax is a one-time tax on items bought out of state, such as clothing through magazines or the Internet.
In Alderson, use tax is generally received from construction materials bought because so many oil field companies are building shops there. This months check was for $23,882.98, a major increase over the $3,045.60 of last February.
But when it comes to sales tax revenue, the town of Crowder even saw a decrease there. This time last year the lakeside community received a check for $5,794.23.
This month the town was sent a check for $4,104.89, representing sales from Dec. 16 to Jan. 15.
The city of McAlester fared much better, seeing an increase of $48,871.72 from February 2007.
In February 2007, McAlester received $1,349,800.96, but this month the city was paid $1,398,672.68.
Why the increase? The aftermath of Christmas, Sherry Alessi, assistant city treasurer, said. People were going back to the stores for returns, and buying things on sale. A lot of people take advantage of the sales after Christmas.
Alessi also noted that gift cards are not counted as revenue until they are used at the store, which could be weeks or months after they are purchased.
Here is a comparison of sales tax disbursements for area cities, towns and counties compared to February 2007:
Cities and towns
Alderson: $20,132.42, up from $2,411.08
Allen: $15,718.32, up from $11,760.77
Atoka: $216,441.04, up from $208,230.76
Calvin: $20,824.81, up from $4,053.62
Clayton: $20,761.59, down from $22,553.85
Coalgate: $88,304.50, up from $82,522.80
Crowder: $4,104.89, down from $5,794.23
Eufaula: $153,285.70, up from $137,688.45
Haileyville: $3,672.96, up from $3,592.43
Hartshorne: $42,773.26, up from $39,022.33
Indianola: $1,044.29, up from $611.50
Kiowa: $5,069.75, down from $10,547.67
Krebs: $60,681.99, up from $51,119.07
McAlester: $1,398,672.68, up from $1,349,800.96
Pittsburg: $2,451.49, up from $1,480.32
Quinton: $20,965.89, up from $11,933.03
Red Oak: $20,470.79, up from $9,659.43
Savanna: $15,609.19, up from $6,121.42
Stigler: $154,932.82, up from $122,597.56
Stuart: $5,633.99, up from $5,595.60
Wilburton: $115,010.34, up from $113,577.14
Counties
Atoka County: $370,201.70, up from $183,816.26
Haskell County: $198,373.28, up from $191,729.03
Latimer County: $238,027.52, up from $184,831.10
McIntosh County: $202,489.57, up from $201,225.83
Pittsburg County: $504,285.88, up from $413,567.78
Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission
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