Sales tax numbers for Manhattan declined slightly for August compared to the same period in 2010. $768,817 were collected in August figures, which actually reflect two months prior. The adjusted rate is $728,920, and reflects a decline of $25,948 from the year before. The budget had called for 750-thousand dollars.
Manhattan Finance Director Bernie Hayen attributes part of the decline to the partial month’s collection of sales taxes from Wal-Mart. He anticipates those additional numbers will be credited to the city in the September report.
However, Hayen says most big box stores were down a little from a year ago with the exception of Manhattan Town Center stores, which were collectively up about three percent compared to the same period a year ago.
