Published: November 05, 2008 10:42 am      

City sees sales tax revenue increase

Sales tax revenue distributed to McAlester last month rose 7 percent over last year, putting $1.3 million into city coffers while Pittsburg County’s sales tax revenue rose a whopping 69 percent to $720,977, the state tax commission has reported.

Meanwhile, the use tax collected in McAlester fell 19.6 percent to $35,994 while Pittsburg County’s use tax collection rose 7 percent to $41,983, according to the commission.

The taxes, which are collected by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, were distributed in October based on sales tax receipts in late August and early September.

In McAlester, sales tax revenue for October was levied at a rate of .0375 cents per dollar. That rate fell this month when a bond tax for McAlester Regional Health Center expired. The change is expected to show in January distributions to the city.

Last year in October, the city collected $1.25 million in sales tax revenue.

McAlester’s use tax, also levied at a rate of .0375 cents, generated $35,994 in revenue last month, compared with $44,769 at the same time last year. The collection reflects a decrease of $8,775.

For Pittsburg County, a sales tax rate of .0075 cents per dollar generated $720,977 in revenue in October, compared to $425,682 at the same time last year, an increase of $295,295. The county’s use tax revenue rose by $2,805 from last year’s $39,178, according to the tax commission.

Contact Kandra Wells at kwells@mcalesternews.com.