Small Town News

Tax numbers for May mixed in Verde Valley

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Taxes collected by the Arizona Department of Revenue from the towns in the Verde Valley were mixed for the month of May. In several cases, retail sales were up over the same period last year, but a continued slowdown in construction activity continued to put several communities on track to collect less for the 2009-10 fiscal year overall.

Camp Verde had a decent April in retail trade, at least compared to April 2009, with $77, 000 generated. But that number took a hit in May, dropping to around $63, 700. Still that number was only slightly lower than what was collected in May 2009.

Construction tax revenue dropped by more than 50 percent in May over April to $6, 623, a figure much lower than the $30, 000 collected over the same period last year.

Across all taxable sectors, Camp Verde generated just over. $145, 500 in May compared to $182, 700 the same month last year. Unless the numbers for June are exceptional, the town stands to take in several thousand dollars less for the fiscal year as a whole, something not unexpected by local government leaders.

In Cottonwood, retail sales were up in May over April, from $570, 122 to $636, 953. That's even an improvement over May 2009, and while construction revenue for the month was nearly halved over the same month last year at $44, 000, slight increases across certain other taxable sectors kept revenue collected only slightly less than this point 12 months ago.

Fewer people stayed in Cottonwood hotels last month compared with May 2009, with more than $10, 000 less collected at just under $23, 000. Still, more revenue was collected from hotels in May 2010 than the month before.

If June holds to a similar pattern, Cottonwood may actually generate slightly more than the $10.4 million collected during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

May brought a drop in revenue over April in Clarkdale, where the town generated a total of nearly $62, 500 for the month, down from $71, 400 in April.

But increases in construction, utilities and retail taxes made May 2010 a much better month for the taxman than May 2009, with $62, 500 collected compared to $19, 200. Still, $579, 870 has been collected in Clarkdale this fiscal year to date, putting the town on track to generate significantly less than the $783, 000 collected last year.

Jerome continued to buck the trend among regional communities to see decreases in tax collection overall. With a month left in the fiscal year, the town has already generated $481, 100 in taxable activity, more revenue than it did for the entirety of last year when it brought in nearly $477, 000. From construction and utilities to retail sales and restaurant taxes, Jerome saw a boost across all sectors over May 2009, although construction, manufacturing and utilities taxes were down over April 2010.

Sedona saw a slight decrease over April, with $1.2 million collected. It's about $200, 000 less than what was collected in May 2009, and marginally less than what was collected in April. Retail sales were up over April, as well as the same period last year, but significant drops in construction, hotel and restaurant taxes over May 2009 contributed to the overall decline for the month. Last fiscal year, the city generated just over $13.5 million. With a month left, this year has brought in $11 million to the revenue department.

The fiscal year ends Wednesday, June 30. Data for June is expected to be released late next month.

Mark Lineberger can be reached at 567-3341 or e-mail CVEditor@larsonnewspapers.com



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© 2011 Sedona Red Rock News Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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