Sales Tax Increase Having Big Effect On Revenue

The sales tax increase Crawford County voters approved in April and began collecting in October provided another big boost to general revenue in November.

During the second month of collection, the county took in $169,781.12, a 66 percent increase compared to November 2017. Last November, $101,768.65 was collected.

In October, the county saw an increase of 41 percent.

Overall, the sales tax has raised general revenue collection to $1.258 million — a 15.5 percent increase. 

At the same point last year, the county had collected $1.104 million.

Crawford County has had a strong year even without the voter-approved increase. 

Collection was up 3 percent in January, 21 percent in February and dipped 20 percent compared to March 2017.

From April through June, collection increased 23 percent, 5 percent and 28 percent compared to 2017.

Revenue decreased 4 percent and 6 percent in August and September before rebounding in October, even without the increase.

The county will go into January 2019 looking to approve a budget without the same sort of headwinds that faced them before. Budget negotiations for 2018 lasted across several sessions and nearly ended with general revenue employees seeing their work week cut to 32 hours.

With the revenue seemingly on the rise, officials have said erasing the county debt and balancing the budget will be the immediate tasks.