Published: February 03, 2008 09:07 am      

Tax receipts grow at slower pace

While Woodward’s sales tax receipts continue to show an increase month after month, it seems the rate of growth has begun to level off this fiscal year.

With only a marginal increase in sales tax receipts posted for the last month when compared with receipts for January 2007, Woodward City Manager Alan Riffel commented on a recent trend with this fiscal year’s receipts remaining “virtually equal” to last year’s receipts.

However, Riffel said “it’s not a bad place to be,” especially considering the record levels reached with sales tax receipts last year.

He said last year’s record receipts meant a 16 percent increase over the previous year. So far this fiscal year, he said there has only been a six percent total increase.

“Growth is still occurring,” he said. “But not as fast.”

“It doesn’t show us continuing to grow at double digit growth,” Riffel said.

Nevertheless, he said positive growth is always good.

He said “any positive growth in the five percent range is strong.”

Riffel also said t he expects the gradual growth to continue. He said he also expects Woodward will continue to see record sales tax receipts.

He said a lot will be determined by the February sales tax receipts, which will reflect how well Woodward did over the past Christmas shopping season. He said the February receipts are typically the highest for the year, while receipts in March and April are usually some of the lowest.

“I think we’ll be able to gauge the economy by what we see in the next few months,” he said.

However, Riffel noted that overall Woodward should continue to benefit from the good economy it has maintained for the last few years.

“We’re doing well,” he said. “I’m satisfied.”



City 2007 2006

(numbers in $)

Alva 301,553.74 256,316.30

Arnett 17,356.32 9,255.08

Beaver 25,541.36 22,321.92

Buffalo 20,958.73 19,179.90

Camargo 1,814.20 2,070.73

Canton 13,373.52 11,648.29

Cheyenne 27,561.35 33,445.82

Fairview 130,977.01 125,185.06

Fargo 2,948.28 1,743.07

Forgan 2,572.91 4,090.03

Fort Supply 2,572.86 2,410.38

Gage 4,562.29 4,829.68

Guymon 257,494.32 214,165.79

Hammon 2,235.48 7,448.24

Laverne 17,941.77 16,954.29

Leedey 8,583.56 9,475.12

Mooreland 20,155.58 21,299.11

Seiling 31,665.35 29,981.93

Shattuck 38,155.70 31,275.47

Taloga 4,777.74 3,119.53

Texhoma 10,501.04 11,697.82

Vici 11,775.18 11,906.71

Waynoka 33,767.18 28,897.46

Woodward 868,011.64 867,953.18