By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
The City of Piedmont has received a June sales tax check that is a decrease in revenue compared to what the city took in last year, but also a sign a recovery from the pandemic is underway.
City Manager Jason Orr said the pandemic resulted in an 11% decrease in sales tax revenue for this year compared to the same time period last year.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission June check is for $173,000.
That could have been worse.
“It is about what I expected it would be.
“I don’t get too excited about the fluctuations,” Orr said.
And the good news is use tax has been on the rise.
With more people at home due to the pandemic, online shopping has increased.
The city received a June use tax check for $77,000.
The most recent checks from the Oklahoma Tax Commission are for a period of April and May.
“People are shopping from home,” Orr said.
The city laid off two employees during the pandemic and the economic downturn.
The city council members approved a fiscal year budget of $10,444,881.
“I think we will see a recovery,” Orr said.
