Published: December 17, 2007 10:26 am      

Sales tax up from a year ago in most area towns; Stigler sees big increase

It’s a small town, with only about 3,000 residents, but the people of Stigler may soon feel that their home is a shopping and dining metropolis.

Their share of November’s use tax disbursement from the Oklahoma Tax Commission increased more than six fold this year. Plus, all the new construction going on there means that the town’s sales tax disbursements in the years to come will probably increase a lot more, too.

“Our use tax is up from $3,015.36 to $20,010.04 because we have a new jail that is being built, plus the Wal-Mart Supercenter just opened on October 24,” Cheryl Monks, city clerk, said.

“Plus, we’re getting a new McDonald’s. They just broke ground for it. We’re also going to get a new Sonic and there’s talk of a Mazzio’s.

“Stigler is really growing. People need to come see it.”

Across Oklahoma, the use tax disbursement of $8,016,142 was distributed between 343 cities and towns. Locally, 14 cities and towns received more money in November 2007 than they did last year at this time.

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.

The disbursement of $104,435,613 in sales tax collections was returned to 504 cities and towns, reflecting an increase of $4,738,512 from the $99,697,101 distributed to 500 cities and towns in November last year.



Use tax disbursements for area towns and cities, compared to November 2006:

• Alderson: $19,849.05, up from $829.80

• Atoka: $5,222.54, up from $4,766.35

• Calvin: $1,307.35, up from $196.01

• Canadian: $6,258.67, up from $952.66

• Crowder: $448.94, up from $194.24

• Eufaula: $4,090.03, up from $3,377.67

• Haileyville: $182.55, down from $212.86

• Hartshorne: $918.55, down from $1,149.30

• Kinta: $1,644.65, up from $1,101.14

• Krebs: $4,058.48, up from $1,712.99

• McAlester: $46,922.82, down from $47,659.51

• Quinton: $1,724.04, up from $593.23

• Red Oak: $424.02, up from $199.33

• Savanna: $327.94, up from $213.64

• Stigler: $20,010.04, up from $3,015.36

• Wilburton: $19,800.32, up from $5,871.63



Use tax returns by county, compared to November 2006, are:

• Atoka County: $26,017.72, up from $6,617.12

• Haskell County: $17,373.68, up from $4,302.63

• Latimer County: $36,602.80, down from $114,224.85

• McIntosh County: $4,830.87, up from $2,193.80

• Pittsburg County: $42,892.00, up from $12,705.86