BENTONVILLE -- Benton County saw a jump in its sales tax receipts for November, while Washington County officials said their returns were barely above November 2013 figures.
"For November we're at $528,601," Bobby Hill, chief deputy treasurer for Washington County, said Wednesday. "We're just under $5,000 more than November 2013. That's less than 1 percent growth, but it's still positive."
By The Numbers
County Sales Tax
Benton County officials report the county has received $6,840,562 in sales tax revenue through November, an increase of $146,819 over the same 11 months of 2013. Washington County officials said that county’s sales tax receipts through November total $5,698.503, which is $123,377 ahead of the same 11 months in 2013.
Source: Staff Report
Benton County's November sales tax report shows the county received a big boost over the same month last year, with $619,058 being received by the county from sales taxes collected by merchants in October. That represents an increase of just more than 9 percent from November 2013.
Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4 and chairman of the Finance Committee, said he's happy with the November report.
"We're finishing strong after being up and down for most of the year and I'm feeling very good about that report," Allen said.
Benton County's monthly sales reports fluctuated throughout the year, leaving officials cautious about next year's revenue, Allen said. The county budgeted for $7.3 million in sales tax revenue for 2014 and is $146,819 ahead. The 2015 budget projects no increase in sales tax revenue, keeping the same $7.3 million estimate as the 2014 budget, but that could change, Allen said.
"I think we'll probably discuss that at the Dec. 4 budget meeting," Allen said. "If we increase it, it will probably only be marginally."
Joel Jones of District 7 said Benton County's growth in sales tax revenue is welcome, but he favors keeping the 2015 budget projection flat and having any growth available for unexpected expenses.
"If we stay flat and it comes in higher that helps us do things like jail maintenance or other unexpected expenses that aren't covered by our normal operating revenue," Jones said.
Washington County's sales tax receipts for each of the last seven months have shown increases over the same months in 2013, Hill said. The county's sales tax collection is $123,37 ahead of the same period for 2013. The county seems likely to exceed its target for growth, Hill said.
"For 2014 we had projected for about 1.8 percent growth," Hill said. "Right now, we're at 2.17 percent. Nine out of the 11 months this year have been over the same month the prior year."
NW News on 11/27/2014