Farmington Tax Revenue Up

FARMINGTON -- Tax revenues collected this year from the city's 1-cent sales tax and its portion of the county sales tax are up more than $45,000, compared to the same period last year.

Kelly Penn, Farmington city clerk, gave out the good news at the July 14 Farmington City Council meeting.

For January--June, Farmington has collected $257,444 from its 1-cent sales tax for the general fund. For the same period last year, Farmington took in $215,993, according to figures from Jimmy Story, city financial officer. The difference is an increase of $41,451 or 8 percent.

County sales tax revenues have increased 9 percent, from $467,223 for January--June 2013, to $471,856 for the same period this year. County sales tax revenues are distributed to cities based on population.

Mayor Ernie Penn said he believes the revenue is an indication of increased business in Farmington.

"With the amount of traffic and the flow that comes through our city, we're seeing a lot more activity," Penn said after the meeting, adding he fully expects to see a bigger increase with the opening of Walmart's Neighborhood Market and a new Kum & Go.

"I'm happy with it and we've not even gotten these other businesses online," Penn said. "Awesome stuff."

The council's agenda last week included only a few items for action.

The council heard the third and final reading of an ordinance to vacate a street right of way at the end of Bonnie Lane. Aldermen then voted to approve the ordinance. The right of way was abandoned at the request of Oakland Farms, which owns lots on both sides of the right of way, so it could square off its back property line. The council has been discussing the ordinance since May.

The council approved a change order of $6,118 on the contract to resurface part of South Holland Drive to deal with subsoil issues in one section of the road. Aldermen also OK'd a request from the Police Department to remove outdated and obsolete items from inventory, including portable radios, hand-held radars and an old VHS surveillance system.

Penn reported that the city had closed on its transaction to sell Creekside Park property to Kum & Go for $105,000. He recommended the city reinvest the money in the park. Goals for the park include a new pavilion and repaving the parking lot on the south side of the park.

Penn also recommended the city increase its support of the annual fireworks show to celebrate the Fourth of July. The 2014 fireworks display cost $5,200, including a $1,000 donation from First Security Bank. Penn wants to double the value of the show.

"Let's bump it to $10,000 and make it a bigger display next year," Penn told council members. "Let's make that one of our goals."

Jeff Hatley, public information officer with Ozark Regional Transit, gave a brief report on the transit system. He said the new Route 620 from West Fork to Lincoln had 164 passengers for the month of June, which he considered a good response for the route's first month. In Farmington, the transit bus had five pickups and seven drop-offs in June, Hatley said.