Slight Dip In Local Sales Tax.

The City’s dependency on sales tax was emphasized by City Administrator Tom Short at the Budget Committee meeting last Monday evening. The general sales tax generates about $1.5 million per year, about 25% of the City’s total revenue.

Short told the Committee that overall revenue from all City sales tax was down a little over 3% as compared to last year at this time. The numbers were worse, said Short, before an unexpected 18.41% increase for October sales was received this month.

It typically takes the state about two months to process sales tax reports and get the funds to the City. Short suggested that the auto maker’s 0% financing might have been partially responsible for the jump.

Sales tax revenue has been relatively flat for the City since 1998. A 4.52% increase was recorded that year and generated $1,549,904. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001 revenues were $1,587,820. This year’s budget anticipated a slight decrease and revenue was projected to be only $1,578,579 by Short. If the current trend continues through the end of the fiscal year, the general tax revenue will be $1,539,588.

The numbers supplied by City Administrator Short didn’t include the half cent gas tax the City collects. Those figures are interestin’ also.

In 1995 the City collected $379,779 from the half cent. In the fiscal year 2000 (July to June) the City collected just over $440,000. From July to November of this year the tax has already generated $258,226.

With winter comin’ on, ya can’t hardly expect that number to be carried on through the year. But, just for fun, if it would happen to, the result would be a whoppin’ $619,000 in gas tax revenue. Keep buyin’ that gas in Carthage.

The best thing about the gas tax is that it’s gotta be used for street construction and maintenance. The more ya drive, the better the streets.

This is some fact but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Servicesl

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Rudolph will show up in unsuspecting places this holiday season when your kids create his image on gift bags and even on a hat for the youngest in the family. The secret charm in these projects is that your kids’ hands make the antlers!

Here’s how to make the gift bag:

Trace your child’s hands on brown construction paper, cardboard or craft foam. Cut out each hand shape.

Close the top of a brown paper lunch bag by folding it down 2 inches. Punch two holes about 1 inch apart through the folded top of the bag. Glue the hand-shaped "antlers" (at the wrist) to the top corners of the folded bag. The fingers and thumbs will extend beyond the top fold of the bag.

Then cut out two small oval ear shapes from light brown paper and glue one ear on each reindeer antler (at the palm of the hand shape).

Use markers or crayons to draw a reindeer face on the bag. A red pompom is perfect for Rudolph’s "nose so bright."

Place a gift inside the decorated bag and refold it. Run ribbon through the two holes and tie. Add jingle bells, if you wish, and a gift tag.

Note: Once the present is removed, cut off the base of the bag for a fun holiday hand puppet!

To make a reindeer hat:

Fill two stretch gloves (available for under $2 at many discount stores) with fiberfill or scraps of old fabric. The filled gloves will be the antlers.

On a plain cotton baseball-style hat, stitch the open ends of the gloves to the right and left sides of the top of the hat. Try the hat on your child to determine the exact placement. It will be about 1 1/2 inches from the top center of the hat and 3 to 4 inches from the brim. Stitch jingle bells to the antlers for extra fun.