After months of downward spiral in retail, Jacksonville's sales tax jumps almost 10%
After months of posting lackluster retail sales, Jacksonville is again in positive position.

graphic: Cherokeean Herald

State Comptroller Susan Combs recently released sales tax rebates, which represent purchases made during November and remitted to the state in December.

When comparing Jacksonville's retail sales for the same 30-day period a year ago, retail sales climbed 9.37 percent.

Rusk also experienced a strong month with an increase of 10.39 percent.

Smaller cities in Cherokee County posted a mixed bag, with Wells at one extreme with 216 percent increase and Cuney at 12.81 percent.

Alto dipped into negative numbers with a 20.35 percent drop in retail sales when compared to the previous year.

A state comptroller spokeswoman told the Cherokeean Herald that it is not uncommon for small cities to post wide fluctuations in their sales tax rebates.

For example, if a retailer is late in remitting a sales tax return, that one account can skew the numbers for the entire city.

Statewide, sales tax rebates were up 9.1 percent compared to a year ago.

"While increases have moderated compared to those of the past two years, solid sales tax growth continues," said Mrs. Combs. Comptroller of Public Accounts City and County Sales Tax Rebates Released January 2008

Cities	Rate	Net Payment Comparable payment		% Change	2007	2006	% Change
		this period	prior year	to date	to date	to date	payments
Alto	1.0%	4,773.29	5,993.06	-20.35%	4,773.29	5,993.06	-20.35%
Cuney	1.5%	5,515.02	4,888.51	12.81%	5,515.02	4,888.51	12.81%
Jacksonville	1.5%	216,281.34	197,742.39	9.37%	216,281.34	197,742.39	9.37%
New Summerfield	1.0%	1,000.06	1,182.20	-15.40%	1,000.06	1,182.20	-15.40%
Rusk	1.5%	31,103.81	28,173.94	10.39%	31,103.81	28,173.94	10.39%
Wells	1.0%	5,242.95	1,654.97	216.80%	5,242.95	1,654.97	216.80%
Total		263,916.47	239,635.07	10.13%	263,916.47	239,635.07	10.13%
Cherokee Co.	0.5%	108,896.83	112,108.03	-2.86%	108,896.83	112,108.03	-2.86%