Sales tax collections decline in December

1/29/2013

Although December general fund sales tax collections for the city of Hays saw a decline of 10.78 percent when compared to last year, year-to-date sales tax collections increased approximately 5 percent in 2012.

Sales tax collections in December were $555,204, $67,090 less than December 2011.

Sales tax collections for Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex in December totaled $227,641, a decrease of $27,571 when compared to December 2011. Year-to-date collections for the sports complex are $2.9 million, with inception-to-date collections at $9.9 million.

The sales tax for the sports complex will sunset at the end of March; however, city of Hays Finance Director Kim Rupp told city commissions last week because of a two-month lag in collections, reports on sales tax collections will continue through June.

"We had originally hoped for $10 million to take care of future maintenance projects (at Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex)," Rupp told commissioners. "We had projected $10.5 million.

"I think it will be closer to $11 million."