Jonesboro, Craighead County sales tax revenue up in September report

Jonesboro is on track to set an all-time record in sales tax collections after a strong September, according to the city. Through the first nine months of 2018, Jonesboro collected $13.602 million in sales tax revenue, a 1.79% ($238,917) increase from the same period in 2017, city records show.

The city collected $1.504 million in September , a 7.69% ($107,415) increase from the same month last year.

Sales tax collections are higher in Northeast Arkansas’ hub city, but the numbers are slightly down when compared to what has been budgeted through September. The city budgeted $13.824 million, which is almost 1.61% less than has been collected.

Craighead County had a surge in sales tax collections during September, too. The county collected $1.689 million in September, an 8% ($134,000) increase from the previous year. Year-to-date, the county has collected $15.072 million, a less than 1% ($99,000) bump from 2017.

Sales tax collection numbers are released 60 days late, meaning these numbers are from July transactions.

After a succession of record setting years, government officials have said county and city collections are relatively flat. The city and county set ecords in sales tax collections in 2017. Craighead County collected $19.989 million in sales tax, a 3.1% ($616,288) increase from 2016. Jonesboro collected $17.83 million in sales taxes, a 2.91% increase ($504,075) from the previous year.

The county and city also set collection records in 2016. During the last five years Jonesboro’s collections have risen by 16%, and have steadily grown each year.