By Kandra Wells
January tax collections from November sales were mixed among area towns as compared with last year, with McAlester’s falling to $1.32 million this year compared with $1.38 million a year ago.
The decrease comes as a quarter-cent tax expired that month.
“It is still a good month,” said Mayor Kevin Priddle, a banker, to challenge former city treasurer Steve Harrison’s contention the numbers forecast economic trouble in coming months.
“Note that for the first time this fiscal year, we failed to reach the level of the prior year, 96 percent,” Harrison had said. “This may be the first indicator that the recession has arrived locally.”
The January revenue tax disbursement report was released by the Oklahoma Tax Commission Jan. 30.
McAlester was one of several area communities reporting lower tax collections over the previous year. But more reported increased collections, some up sharply over the previous year. Alderson, for instance, enjoyed a 474.68 percent hike, collecting $11,143 compared with $1,939 in 2008.
Other increases were more modest.
In McAlester, the January decrease over the previous year definitely points to a “softening,” Priddle said.
“We have to make sure and spend any dollars we can to help the tax base grow and diversify.”
Here are the sales tax returns for area cities, towns and counties as reported by the state Tax Commission for January, as compared with January 2008.
City 2009 2008
Alderson $11,143 $1,939
Canadian $4,957 $5,523
Crowder $5,111 $4,531
Eufaula $148,335 $156,117
Haileyville $5,212 $4,328
Hartshorne $47,049 $39,223
Indianola $1,535 $975
Keota $7,928 $5,020
Kinta $1,212 $4,091
Kiowa $11,237 $24,431
Krebs $60,636 $58,127
McAlester $1,326,341 $1,380,960
Pittsburg $1,871 $3,738
Quinton $19,847 $15,082
Red Oak $12,062 $10,749
Savanna $9,182 $8,471
Stuart $4,821 $6,811
Talihina $43,099 $28,218
Whitefield $4,278 $2,022
Wilburton $106,289 $101,604
County 2008 2007
Latimer $284,987 $200,043
McIntosh $236,133 $193,021
Pittsburg $533,104 $441,764
Here are the use (mail order) tax returns for area cities, towns and counties as reported by the state Tax Commission for January, as compared with January 2008.
City 2009 2008
Alderson $11,437 $23,488
Canadian $5,758 $12,822
Crowder $264 $2,646
Eufaula $7,084 $5,474
Haileyville $206 $191
Hartshorne $35,593 $1,615
Kinta $781 $1,626
Kiowa $603 $2,991
Krebs $3,915 $9,415
McAlester .$00 $49,908
Quinton $834 $1,603
Red Oak $479 $479
Savanna $384 $351
Talihina $665 $00
Whitefield $209 $113
Wilburton $21,010 $15,379
County 2008 2007
Latimer $18,959 $30,177
McIntosh $8,592 $14,206
Pittsburg $29,367 $56,203
Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission
