HERMANN – Halfway through the fiscal year, Gasconade County government is continuing its march to a third consecutive record-setting year for sales tax revenue.

After receiving this year’s second $100,000-plus sales tax reimbursement check from the Missouri Department of Revenue, the county’s General Fund sales tax ledger shows the financial footing to be solid — more than $573,000 has been received this year.

The reimbursement check received last week was for $103,464, about $900 less than the amount received in June of last year. And last year the county received a total of $1,122,323 — the most ever. The total amount received in 2020 was $1,037,402. The June amount was the second largest monthly check received this year; the largest was in January. That check was for $106,177. As it now stands, the 2022 sales tax tally shows the county to be running $50,391 ahead of the amount received during the first half of the year.

Meanwhile, the county’s use tax on purchases made from out-of-state vendors continues to keep surprising elected officials. More than $120,000 has been received during the first six months, according to figures reported to the County Commission Thursday morning by County Treasurer Mike Feagan.

The June reimbursement check for the use tax was $15,361. Compared to the high-water mark of $35,227 received in March, this month’s check seems to indicate that county residents are slowing their online shopping. “The use tax is kind of a fluid thing,” Feagan said in explaining the wide gaps in the monthly reimbursements.

The use tax money, which by all indications will exceed the amount estimated for the first full year, will provide a substantial starting point for budget makers at year’s end. This year’s budget does not include any of the use tax revenue.