“People are shopping outside the community less and there are some interesting and unique boutique stores and small business that hasn’t been there as an option in the past,” she said. “Those stores have taken the place of Target, and other larger options.”
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Data obtained by the Springfield News-Sun from the county government shows a resurgence in sales tax collected in the first quarter. In March, the county got more than $2.3 million dollars from sales tax. That’s more than the $2.2 million the county collected at the same time last year.
The sales taxes are two months delayed — meaning money spent in the county in January is dispersed to the county’s general fund in March. April’s sales tax revenue is not available yet.
“First quarter sales taxes are an indication of strong economic increase,” Flax Wilt said. “I contribute it to more confidence and more stability in the local economy.”
In January, the county collected more than $1.9 million in sales tax, up from more than $1.7 million the year before. In February, the county collected more than $2 million in sales tax, up from more than $1.9 million in 2018.
South Charleston is an area that has seen several small businesses open over the last year or so. Springfield has also celebrated new restaurants and another business opening in the area over the last year.
Sales tax is the sole revenue for the Clark County Commissions general fund, Flax Wilt said. The added money will help commissioners pay bills and start new projects, she said.
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“Increased sales tax is encouraging and it gives me as a commissioner confidence, but I don’t want it to be just a glimpse in time,” she said. “It is one quarter and I think it’s positive and optimistic. I was already optimistic about what was happening in the community.”
The county hasn’t made up for federal changes in how states can tax Medicaid. Clark County sales tax collections were hundreds of thousands of dollars more in 2017 than there are now.
In 2017, the county had collected almost $6.8 million in the first quarter. In 2019, the county has collected about $6.3 million in the first quarter.
Prior to 2017, Clark County collected about $3 million in Medicaid Health Insuring Corp. sales taxes annually, according to state data.
The sales tax has increased over the last five years. In 2014, the county had collected about $5.9 million.
The city of Springfield does not collect sales tax.
Sales Tax revenue in 2019
Jan - $1,974,700.67
Feb - $2,034,476.66
March - $2,337,202.03
*Data from Clark County government
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