Jacksonville continues slide with lackluster sales tax growth; Rusk posts 9.62% gain

Sales activity is easing statewide, and the largest retail center in Cherokee County is following suit.

Sales tax returns for the city of Jacksonville were down 4.57 percent for the month of October, when compared to October 2006.

In the year-to-date column, retail sales in Jacksonville are down 7.71 percent.

Other cities in Cherokee County are faring better. Wells and Cuney are posting sales tax increases of 18.05 and 15.92 percent, year-to-date.

Also posting increases are Rusk with 9.62 percent, Alto, 5.3 percent and New Summerfield, .06 percent.

Sales tax collected by Cherokee County is also up by 7.02 percent year-to-date, when compared to the same period a year ago.

These sales tax rebates reflect purchases made during September and remitted to the state comptroller's office in October.

State Comptroller Susan Combs said, "The lower growth rate is a reflection of a general easing of sales activity, most noticeable in the retail trade sector, and is consistent with a slowing economy."

Statewide the comptroller distributed $525.3 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts.

Retail sales totated $1.65 billion in October, representing an increase of 3.1 percent over the previous year.