WM A&P tax collections down

WM A&P tax collections down

Martin: ‘ I just don’t think this will be a banner year’

news@theeveningtimes.com A slow first quarter pulled down West Memphis Advertising and Promotion tax collections, and those early results still have the hamburger tax in the red. Despite five of the first seven months of 2017 reported up, dips in January and March were enough to erase positive revenues from those healthier months.

Year-to-date, the A& P tax is off 9.08 percent down $5,085.00 so far against 2016 numbers. There were higher hopes when the budget was set, but results are $27,190 behind projections.

July tax receipts showed a minor increase, up just $279 over last year up by a fraction, 0.21 percent.

City Treasurer Frank Martin delivered latest results and commissioners reacted to the lack luster year to date results. The news came as the A& P committed to a $500,000 renovation of the Civic Auditorium and will be footing the bill for the brand new $150,000 welcome signs on the Intestates. Martin said a win was a win and banked the meager gain.

“It’s simple — we did beat last year, by $280,” said Martin. “For the year, we are $5,085 behind last year. The last four months have been in the black, but I just don’t think this will be a banner year. I think we will be above budget and finish in the black.”

Reaction from the commissioners was subdued.

“It was a slow first quarter, wasn’t it?” asked A& P Chairman Frank Waggener.

“It was the first months that were the problem,” said Councilwoman Ramona Taylor. A&P

Martin said that the A& P downer months of January and March paralleled city sales tax results.

“Its the same problem we had with the city, except it was February as well,” said Martin. “I don’t know what the connection was and we will probably never figure it out.”

By John Rech