Tulsa’s sales tax revenues were up 9.5% in December from 2010, Mayor Dewey Bartlett said last week.
The city received a $21.2 million sales tax distribution from the Oklahoma Tax Commission from December revenue. The December 2010 total was $18.4 million.
Bartlett said the city had estimated December collections at $19.9 million. But tougher times might be ahead, he warned.
“The holiday season was good,” Bartlett said. “Because of the announced layoffs at American Airlines and potentially the United States Postal Service, however, we remain cautious about future growth.”
Sales tax revenue in the first eight months of fiscal 2012 totaled $145.7 million, up 7.6% from $135.4 million in the same period of fiscal 2011 and 2.8% more than expected.
The percentage increases are adjusted to account for an increase in the city’s sales tax rate to 3.167% from 3%.
Tulsa’s collection rate went up when revenue generated by a 0.167% tax for Tulsa County reverted to the city. The revenue goes into a dedicated street fund.
Use tax revenues totaled $2.4 million in the month, up from $1.6 million in December 2010.
