Dothan Tax Collections Have City Manager Cautiously Smiling

Dothan tax revenues in the new fiscal year are off to a good start, exceeding budget by $145,000.  

Figures released Wednesday show the city collected just over $4.3 million dollars sales tax revenue during October.  When combined with automobile and other sales tax revenue, Dothan collected over $4.5 million dollars.  The figures are based on retail sales for September.  Merchants submit collected taxes the following month. 

The numbers exceed October budget projections by over $145,000 and are over $22,000 more than the city collected during the same month a year ago.  Overall, revenues are 3% over budget for FY '13 which began October 1.

City Manager Mike West feels good about the figures though he admits the economy is still a concern.  "We're not at the level we were when the recession hit in 2008 but we've stabilized," West said.  "Anytime you start (the fiscal year) ahead that's a good thing."

West said if tax revenue continues to show growth that could bring some projects, including park development, from the drawing board to the construction stage. However, West stressed its too early to speculate when that will happen.