County use tax gains almost equal all the combined declines

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

Sales tax to Barry County cities took an unusual dip in August. At the same time, countywide tax collections showed a gain. The county’s use tax, on top of that, had an increase so big that it almost made up for the decreases in the towns. 

The seven Barry County cities collecting sales tax received $835,742.79 in August, down 4% from last August. Only Purdy, Washburn and Wheaton managed to top last August’s numbers. 

Cassville saw its second drop in five months. The city’s 1% sales tax supporting its general fund generated $118,000.91, down $5,931.96 or 5% from last August. It was the lowest August total since 2023, but higher than every August prior to that. Collections from Cassville’s use tax for the month were down another $5,000. Collections from Cassville’s four sales taxes and its use tax combined were down more than $19,000 from a year ago. However, collections for 2026 are still up 5% from the first eight months of 2025. 

Monett’s sales tax receipts, in contrast to most months, took the biggest dive of any bi-county city or county in August. Monett’s two sales taxes at 1% yielded $217,109.61, down $13,127.93 or 6% from a year ago. The city’s use tax, on the other hand, showed a gain of more than $43,000, counterbalancing the red ink. Consequently, compared to last August, Monett’s five sales taxes and its use tax combined took in more than $16,000 this year, up almost 3%. For the year, Monett’s tax receipts are up nearly 10% over last year’s pace. Monett’s combined receipts are close to double what Cassville took in. 

Seligman’s 1% sales tax for its general fund received $10,438.50, down $3,260.42 from last August. It was the lowest August total since 2019. The city’s use tax, in contrast, beat out last August’s sum by $880. Collections for the month were up by more than $4,000 from a year ago because the city’s law enforcement tax is bringing in that much more than it did in its first month of collections. For the year, collections from Seligman’s four older sales taxes and its use tax, not counting the newer law enforcement tax, are up 9% from a year ago. Supporting that rise has been a 55% increase in collections from the city’s use tax. 

Exeter’s 1% sales tax received $2,654.40 in August, down $669.58 from a year ago, the city’s lowest August collection since 2019. It was only the second drop in six months. The city’s use tax collection dropped another $110. For the year, the two taxes have taken in almost $300 more than in the same time last year. 

Purdy’s 1% sales tax for its general fund yielded $6,348.51, up $200.86 from last August. It was the fourth gain in five months. That put general fund collections for the year up by nearly $3,000, and total tax collections up by nearly 20%. 

Wheaton’s 1% general fund sales tax received $7,794.15, up $2,280.35 from last August, breaking three months of consecutive drops. It was the city’s best August since 2022. The city’s use tax collections, which have been down all year, dropped another $200 for the month. Wheaton’s half-cent tax produced half of the one-cent, for a change, much more than in a typical month. For the year, Wheaton’s two sales taxes and its use tax collections combined are down almost 3% from last year’s pace. 

Washburn’s 1% sales tax took in $3,867.62 for the month, up $223.38 from a year ago. Use tax collections, however, dropped by $5,000, eating up all the gains for the month. Washburn’s three sales taxes and its use tax have brought in 28% more this year, compared to last year when the State Auditor’s office suspended collections for two months. 

Countywide taxes did not falter in light of the anemic municipal performances. 

Barry County’s two sales taxes supporting its general fund at .625% brought in $331,198.03, up $3,180.45 from a year ago, the best August since 2023. Collections from Barry County’s four sales taxes for the year are up by 5%. 

For the month, the county’s use tax brought in $292,860.25, up $43,197.59 from last August. All the combined total losses in city sales taxes, including Monett, totaled only $5,672.95 more than that. Use tax collections for the county are up by more than $540,000, or 35%, for the year. 

The .375% sales tax supporting central dispatching and 911 services run by the Barry County Emergency Services Board took in $198,698.52, up $1,888.67 from last August. Receipts from that tax are up 5% for the year.