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Oklahoma City sales tax win streak best in more than a decade

William Crum
by William Crum
Published: Mon, December 17, 2018 2:04 PM Updated: Mon, December 17, 2018 2:34 PM
Sales tax growth has been turbocharged in 2018 by a quarter-cent sales tax increase for public safety, but underlying economic growth has meant a series of increases that, even without the rate increase, has kept revenue on the upswing longer than the mid-decade downturn that followed contraction in oil-and-gas prices. 
Sales tax growth has been turbocharged in 2018 by a quarter-cent sales tax increase for public safety, but underlying economic growth has meant a series of increases that, even without the rate increase, has kept revenue on the upswing longer than the mid-decade downturn that followed contraction in oil-and-gas prices. 

December sales tax results show the metro economy still humming.

The city received a $39.3 million from the Oklahoma Tax Commission in sales tax for collections the last two weeks of October and first two weeks of November.

Results reflect underlying growth of 4.6 percent in economic activity in the period preceding the holiday shopping season, said Oklahoma City Budget Director Doug Dowler.

Sales tax is the single-largest revenue source for the city budget. The city depends on sales tax for day-to-day services, such as police and fire.

Dowler said December is the 20th consecutive month of growth in sales tax. The previous longest streak was 26 months, from January 2005 through February 2007, he said.

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William Crum

OU and Norman High School graduate, formerly worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, and the Norman Transcript. Married, two children, lives in Norman. Read more ›

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