Recent sales tax income a plus for future projects

    Near records have been set from the latest two months of city sales tax income.
    The most recent came last week when city officials received the June report, completing the second quarter of sales tax collection for 2020.
    The Nebraska Dept. of Revenue deposited $50,782.32 in the Imperial account last week from eligible sales during the month of June.
    That’s only the second time the city had gone over the $50,000 mark for monthly proceeds since the 1% city sales tax started in April 2009.
    And, it’s well over $13,000 more than June 2019.
    City Clerk/Administrator Jo Leyland is glad to see more local shopping being done. Higher sales tax is a direct reflection of more local purchases.
    COVID-19 has kept more people home, and they are shopping more in Imperial.
    “It’s awesome for our local businesses that there is more shopping here,” she said.
    Higher internet shopping with package delivery in the city limits could also be a factor. It’s difficult for city officials to know, however, because the state does not break out sales tax totals from brick-and-mortar shopping and internet sales—they are all lumped together.
    Leyland said it’s likely a combination of both.
    The only thing the monthly reports do separate out is the sales tax from motor vehicle sales—that’s because those dollars, by law, must go into the street department for use there.
    For June, the sales tax on motor vehicles was $6,260.19, the highest for the second quarter.
    October 2019 holds the record for the biggest month of sales tax receipts ever at $51,467.27.
Projects are many
    When Imperial voters approved establishing the sales tax more than 11 years ago, the vote required the funds be split 50/50 between community development projects and economic development.

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