By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Sales tax revenues for the City of Yukon declined this month as city leaders continue to strongly urge shoppers to frequent stores inside Yukon city limits.
On June 9, Yukon’s monthly sales tax distribution from the Oklahoma Tax Commission totaled $2,285.580.63.
That was nearly 5% less than the June ’22 distribution of $2,399,139.94.
Last month, Yukon’s sales tax revenues were up 5.9% over May ’22.
The June distribution of sales tax collections by the Oklahoma Tax Commission primarily represents local tax receipts from April business.
Yukon Mayor Shelli Selby again reminded Yukon residents to spend with City of Yukon businesses, emphasizing “that means north of 10th Street.”
“We have to remain vigilant about shopping in Yukon,” Selby said. “Every dollar spent in Oklahoma City is taking money out of Yukon.
“Money that is needed to pay our employees, our bills and funds our roads, water and parks. We cannot afford to drop in sales tax (collections). It is our only revenue.”
The City of Yukon has a 4% local tax rate.
Sales tax revenue is the primary revenue source for Oklahoma’s municipalities, funding local government operations.
The City of Yukon did enjoy a 4.1% hike in use tax revenues – from $287,072.11 in June ’22 to $298,789.55 this June.
A use tax is a tax on goods or services that generally would be subject to sales tax, but the sales tax was not collected or was under-collected. Use taxes often apply to online or out-of-state purchases.
Four municipalities in Canadian County reported decreases in their monthly sales tax distribution in the year-over-year comparison:
- Calumet – 12.9% Down
- El Reno – 7.4% Down
- Union City – 11.7% Down
- Yukon – 5% Down
The other four municipalities had increases:
- Geary – 14.6% Up
- Mustang – 4.7% Up
- Okarche – 52% Up
- Piedmont – 4.8% Up
Meanwhile, Canadian County experienced a 4.8% drop in sales tax collections between June 2022 ($810,486.65) and this June ($773,133.01).
Canadian County’s .035% countywide sales tax is earmarked to fund operations at the Gary E. Miller Children’s Justice Center.
Canadian County’s use tax distribution was $176,934.80 for June, a 2.3% decline from June ’22.
MODEST INCREASE STATEWIDE
Across Oklahoma, municipal sales tax revenues for June were up less than 1% over the same time one year ago.
The disbursement of $191,832,173 in sales tax collections returned to the cities and towns reflected an increase of $1,585,719 from the $190,246,454 distributed to them in June 2022.
In county returns, counties across Oklahoma shared in a $33,103,068 sales tax disbursement and a $6,090,919 use tax disbursement.
Companies that remit more than $2,500 monthly in sales tax receipts are required to file and pay electronically. The monies they reported this period represent sales from April 16-30 and estimated sales from May 1-15.
