sgroves@delphosherald.com

Allen and Van Wert counties experienced healthier September sales tax revenues this year injecting a much needed shot-in-the-arm for local economies. Conversely, Putnam County saw a decrease in collected sales tax revenues.

Allen County Auditor Rhonda Eddy-Stienecker outlined the collected September 2012 sales tax revenues which totaled $1,208,311 and yielded a 2.01 percent increase, or $23,804, as compared to September 2011, which saw total revenues of $1,143,942.  The county’s 2012 year-to-date (YTD) revenues totaling $15,200,305 was an increase of 4.72 percent as compared to last year’s figure of $14,515,002.
“The funds were much needed to counter the state tax cuts and lower interest income.” Eddy-Stienecker elaborated on two budget deficit areas.

The unemployment rate for the county in October 2012 was 6.7 percent, which is a welcome improvement from the 9.2 percent figure from a year ago.

Bev Fuerst, Van Wert County Treasurer, reports that September sales tax collections are up 10 percent, as compared to 2011, and attributes the increase to vigorous motor-vehicle, larger discount store, and the “back to school” season sales.  This year’s sales tax revenues from retail purchases have exceeded last years collections by over $78,000, and the previous year by $262,000.

After falling to a four-year low of 6.7 percent in September 2012, the county’s unemployment estimate shows a rise to 7.0 percent.
Putnam County Auditor Robert L. Benroth detailed the counties’ sales tax revenue for the month of September, which was $415,556, a decrease of 5 percent from last year’s collections of $436,477.

“Sales tax payments stayed the same,” Benroth explained. “We did have a decrease in direct pay tax returns and motor-vehicle sales.”

Putnam County’s 4.9 percent unemployment rate for October 2012 shows a 2.0 percent decrease from a year ago, which stood at 6.9 percent.

For more information please visit these sites: allencountyohauditor.com, putnamcountyohio.gov and vanwertcounty.org.