By Liz McMahan
Fort Gibson town officials are being conservative, but a downturn in sales tax revenues had not sent them into a panic, said Kathryn Carson, town administrator.
Portions of the town’s sales tax are earmarked for the street and alley fund, some for other items, Carson said. However, the unrestricted sales tax receipts for the year to date through November, are down $6,867.02, 4 percent, Carson said.
That compares with a decline of nearly 8 percent in neighboring Muskogee, where officials are beginning to become concerned about budget shortfalls.
Carson said Fort Gibson officers are being conservative in their spending. The town’s September financial statement, the latest that has been presented to the Board of Trustees, showed that with 25 percent of the year gone, general fund expenditures totaled 15.86 percent of the budget.
“Yes, we have to watch it, but it’s not that ‘deer in the headlights’ kind of thing,” Carson said. “Our expenditures are watched so closely that that $6,000 isn’t making a big difference.
Carson said this year’s budget is the same as last year’s, both in revenues and expenses.
In addition, the town’s use tax collections — taxes paid on goods purchased out of state and used locally — have skyrocketed over the same period a year ago, showing an increase of more than $19,000 through November.
That tax money is not earmarked and goes directly into the general fund.
Reach Liz McMahan at 684-2926 or lmcmahan@ muskogeephoenix.com.
Fort Gibson
Sales tax receipts
Month, 2008, 2009, Difference
July, $97,083.95, $95,865.71, -$1,218.24
Aug., $101,197.33 $102,331.21, +$1,133.88
Sept., $99,976.68, $102,229.37, +$2,252.69
Oct., $112,063.32, $105,904.43, -$6,158.89
Nov,. $97,299.17, $85,838.90, -$11,460.27
Total difference in sales tax -$15,450.83
Use tax receipts
July $4983.81, $6265.78, +$1,281.97
Aug., $2,716.97, $10,386.26, +$7,669.29
Sept., $6,172.77, $6,682.06 +$509.29
Oct., $4,679.38, $11,190.32 +$6,510.94
Nov., $5,014.14, $8,149.19 +$3,135.05
Total difference in use tax +$19,106.54
Net difference +$3,655.71
Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission reports
