Use taxes log several big jumps

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

Sales tax receipts for the seven Barry County cities and the county government entities saw solid gains in July, though two cities ended up marginally lower than a year ago. 

The seven cities combined received $867,421.37, a new July record even without the new law enforcement sales tax in Seligman. Not counting that new tax, receipts were up 4 percent from a year ago. Through most of the pandemic local sales tax surge, city receipts have run in the mid-to-upper $700,000 range. Prior to that, the city total did not top $700,000. 

Cassville saw the biggest single-month gain for any town in the bi-county area. Cassville’s 1 percent sales tax supporting its general fund received $125,590.42, up $9,101.26 or almost 8 percent from last July. It was Cassville’s sixth gain in seven months. Likewise, Cassville’s use tax saw a $7,000 jump, another pattern seen in Lawrence County cities for the month. For 2026, Cassville’s general fund income is up by more than $63,000. 

Monett saw a much more modest gain but in the same pattern. The city’s two sales taxes supporting its general fund generated $220,644.66 in July, up $2,845.17 from a year ago for the fourth consecutive monthly gain. That put Monett’s general fund tally for 2026 up by more than $128,000 or 9 percent. Monett’s use tax receipts doubled from last July, boosting the sum over last year’s pace by more than $172,000. 

Seligman’s 1 percent sales tax for its general fund generated $14,390.61, a gain of $577.70 from last July. Like Cassville, it was the sixth gain in seven months. That boosted general fund receipts for the year up almost $5,000 above last year’s pace. Seligman’s use tax also saw a gain of nearly $2,000 or 37 percent. 

Purdy saw its third gain in four months. The city’s 1 percent general fund tax produced $6,298.11, up $111.27 from last July. That held the city’s margin over 2026 ahead by almost $2,800. 

Exeter logged a record July. Its 1 percent general fund sales tax received $3,446.55, up $1,473.06 from last year and breaking the 2024 record by $22.86. It was the fourth gain for Exeter in five months, though the 2026 sum lags behind last year by more than $5,000. Exeter’s use tax has cut away some of that red ink, gaining 24 percent over last July and showing a gain of $882 for the year. 

Wheaton slipped for the month, as its 1 percent general fund tax produced $5,167.03, down $174.80 from last July. That put Wheaton’s general fund tally down from last year’s pace by a little more than $1,600. Even Wheaton’s use tax receipts slipped, but by only $56.62. The disparity between Wheaton’s 1 percent and its .5 percent sales taxes was even more unusual in July. The half-cent tax usually brings in about 42 percent, instead of 50 percent, but this month topped its mathematical quota and brought in 52 percent of the 1-cent tax. 

Washburn’s 1 percent general fund tax was almost dead even with last July. It generated $2,512.43, down $7.48 from a year ago. The city’s two half-cent taxes showed a greater drop. The three taxes combined had a total drop of $523. For the year, however, Washburn’s general fund revenues are ahead by $4,868 or 30 percent of last year’s pace. 

Countywide taxes showed much stronger gains for the month. 

Barry County’s two taxes supporting its general fund at 1.125 percent yielded $313,910.71, up almost $17,000 or almost 6 percent from a year ago. That put general fund receipts for the year up by more than $123,000 or also 6 percent. Barry County’s use tax, however, jumped by 48 percent in July or more than $81,000. That put use tax income for 2026 almost $500,000 ahead of last year. 

The separate .375 percent sales tax that supports central dispatching and 911 service through the Barry County Emergency Services Board yielded $188,346.49 in July, up $10,13610 or 6 percent from a year ago. That reflected a gain of more than $74,000 for the year.