Joplin’s sales tax proceeds hit a record peak despite predictions that they could reach a new low as a result of the 2011 tornado damage.
The 1-cent tax for the city’s general fund exceeded the previous high-water marks by more than $500,000, amounting to a total of $12,875,335 for the city’s current fiscal year. That exceeds the $12,297,228 for last fiscal year by about $578,000, and tops the previous highest total of $12,340,487 in 2008.
The $12,875,335 total represents “the biggest year we’ve ever seen, but I think that’s to be expected with the rebuilding going on,” said Leslie Jones, the city’s finance director. “We do not expect future years to be like that, and the last four months have been coming down.” Collections for the past four months were down about $265,000 from a year ago.
City officials set the budget estimate for collections this fiscal year at $11,191,000, a 1 percent decrease over the previous year, believing that a post-tornado boost from rebuilding and visiting volunteers could play out.
City Manager Mark Rohr, in submitting his 2013 budget, projects that downturn for 2013. The upcoming fiscal year of sales tax proceeds is budgeted at $12 million.
“The post-tornado spike in sales-tax revenue growth has made it difficult to develop meaningful trends to predict these revenues,” he wrote in his letter of transmittal of the proposed budget to the City Council. “I have utilized projections at a level slightly more than the baseline year of 2010 for this document. Research on other communities experiencing similar disasters and consultations with those involved in the local retail industry suggest a leveling off of the revenue spike.”
The tax provides 10 percent of the city’s general fund revenue, with the city’s additional sales taxes providing a total making up about another 17 percent. Those are the transportation sales tax and the public safety sales tax, each budgeted at 5.4 percent; the capital projects sales tax, 4.1 percent; and the parks and stormwater sales tax, 2.7 percent.
Tax collections
In addition to the general fund, Joplin’s other sales tax proceeds for the fiscal year:
Half-cent public safety tax — $6,425,980, up about $285,000.
Half-cent transportation sales tax — $6,437,659, up about $285,000.
Quarter-cent parks and stormwater tax — $3,214,114, up about $140,000.
Three-eighths cent capital projects tax — $4,821,901, up about $220,000.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
Joplin chalks up record sales tax year; city officials predict decline next year
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
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Illinois youth group arrives in Joplin to assemble house
Break time was approaching, but Keith Duncan wanted to make one last concentrated push in order to get the large Penske truck unloaded. “Two minutes, people! Two minutes!” he yelled as the students and adults hauling large wooden sections out of the truck began picking up the pace.
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SLIDESHOW: One year later, One day of unity, updated
Photos from a day of events commemorating the May 22, 2011 tornado anniversary
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Last of 586 FEMA trailers in Joplin to be prepared for move
For 19 months, rows of nearly 600 units spread out among community and commercial sites were a visual reminder of the homes lost in Joplin on May 22, 2011. One by one, contractors began disassembling and moving the trailers, a testament to their occupants having found places to live.
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Civil engineers release study of Joplin tornado damage
It did not take much wind to flatten houses in the Joplin tornado zone because so many were poorly constructed to withstand wind, according to a study released recently by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Rescuers, tornado victims reunite at Quapaw station
There were lots of hugs exchanged, pictures taken and memories summoned when fire crews on Friday met the two youngsters they pulled, critically injured, from the wreckage of Joplin’s 2011 tornado.
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Quapaw tribe’s firefighters, EMS personnel meet with children rescued at Home Depot in 2011
There were hugs, stories and the occasional tear this morning when two children who were trapped and seriously injured after the 2011 Joplin tornado met for the first time the Quapaw Tribe firefighters and emergency medical workers who pulled them from the wreckage and saved their lives that night.
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New members take seats on redevelopment board
Three new members took their places on the board of the Joplin Redevelopment Corp. in a meeting Thursday. The panel welcomed as new members Laurie Delano, vice president of finance for Empire District Electric Co.; Gary Duncan, retired president and chief executive of Freeman Health System; and Phil Stinnett, a former Joplin council member and mayor.
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Tornado grant trustees look to shelter placement
Trustees overseeing a Joplin tornado fund hope to use some of their remaining money to move FEMA-financed tornado shelters to areas where they are needed.
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Documentary about Joplin Globe coverage of tornado wins 2013 Mirror Award
The documentary “Deadline in Disaster” has won a 2013 Mirror Award in the “Best Single Story” category.
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Oklahoma photo collection to begin with ‘Picture Patrol’
A new national photo rescue operation based in Carthage that formed to help salvage and return to owners what was lost in the Joplin tornado has reached out to Moore, Okla., and next week will help storm victims there get down to business.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
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