COUNTY SALES TAX REVENUE AHEAD

JACKSON - Sales tax collections distributed in Cape Girardeau County this month where a little behind those of February 1992, but overall receipts are running on a pace well above last year.

The February check received from the Department of Revenue on the county's half-cent sales tax was for $123,351, down from $134,299 that was collected last year.

County Auditor H. Weldon Macke said that after two months overall receipts are running 3.5 percent ahead of the same point last year, which is a good sign of likely growth.

In 1992 total receipts for the year ran 5.08 percent over 1991. In 1991 Cape County experienced its slowest sales-tax growth ever, with receipts up less than a half percent.

"I think at this point we're running pretty much in the same ball park as we were last year," said Macke. "But the real test will come next month."

The March check will be the first quarterly check of the year, which usually is considerably higher than other months. This check will reflect most of the December sales and receipts from businesses that pay sales taxes quarterly.

In March 1992, Cape County's collections totaled $425,958, the largest sales tax check the county has ever received for a month. Macke said that each quarterly check last year was above $400,000 and he is optimistic next month's check will be near the single month record, if not above it.

Generally, Macke said reports from merchants were that Christmas sales were better in 1992 than the previous year. If that is the case, then the March 1993 check will reflect that, the auditor said.