SSales tax receipts so far for 2018 on goods and services purchased in Hays are up only slightly over 2017, according to Kim Rupp, finance director for the City of Hays.
Right now, receipts are up only seven-tenths of 1 percent, after showing decline the first five months of the year, and then increasing slightly in June, July and August. Sales tax receipts supply money for public works, streets, parks, police, administration, municipal court, the fire department, the golf course, city swimming pools and the baseball fields, among other things.
“Basically it’s what runs the city,” Rupp said, referring to the city’s general fund. Sales tax revenue represents about two-thirds of the general fund for the city of Hays. Unlike most cities, Hays doesn’t have ad valorem, or property taxes, in the general fund.
The remaining third comes from franchise fees, liquor licenses, building permits, court fines, golf course revenue, pet permits and interest income. City administrators haven’t been able to pinpoint any one thing causing the change in tax receipts, but they do speculate on what might be the cause.
“We still think oil has something to do with it,” Rupp said. “Ellis County is the number one county in the state for oil production. So if the price is down, that’s pretty big for us.”
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)