TEXARKANA, Ark. - Although determining the full financial effect of COVID-19 on Miller County's retail sales tax cash flow remains a guessing game, it appears to be going better than expected - so far.
With retail sales tax being one of the county's main revenue streams used to maintain public operations, the flow was initially expected to show signs of slowing by mid- to late summer. But it appears to be holding pretty steady for now, according to Miller County Treasurer's Office records.
Financial records released Friday show that the county's general fund received more than $110,700 in June, $14,000 more than the county received in June of last year, which brought in $96,630.
Back in April, Miller County Treasurer Teresa Reed said she felt that the later summer months would likely show a sales tax income downturn caused by COVID-19, mostly because of the initial response by the public to the pandemic.
News of the viral affliction initially sent people running into stores to buy both food and household supplies well before the stores and other businesses, such as restaurants, started to close.
Reed said the rush to buy emergency supplies may have caused sales to go up before most everything started to shut down and reopen slowly.
Reed predicted a potential harsh decline in sales tax income by at least mid- to late July, but so far the retail sales tax stream appears to be holding.
She added that back-to-school shopping and online shopping may keep sales tax income flowing in August.