County Administrator Nathan Kennedy said the report is good news because officials anticipated sales tax revenue would fall this year.
“I’m pleased in the fact that we’re hitting our targets and hitting our goals. But we’re not doing exceptionally well,” Kennedy said.
Clark County has a 1 percent sales tax and a half-percent tax that officials voted in 2013 to extend for another three years.
County Auditor John Federer said the continuing increase in sales tax revenue indicates residents continue to buy local.
“I think it’s a positive sign that people are continuing to buy in Springfield and are continuing to support local merchants. But any time you’re up over a percent in a year it’s a positive sign,” Federer said.
Federer said the county’s sales tax revenue may have been hampered by harsh winter season in which just more than 50 inches of snow fell in the Miami Valley, the third most in history.
As the weather warms, Federer said residents are spending more.
“People have a greater level of disposable income and are either spending money because they want to or because of pent-up demand,” Federer said.
Clark County collected more than $22.6 million in sales tax revenue in 2013, or more than a 5 percent increase from 2012.
Kennedy has said he does not anticipate a 5 or 6 percent increase in sales tax every year.
He said the current 1.5 percent increase is keeping up with the rate of inflation.
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