MO general revenue ticks upward

Missouri’s gross revenue collection in July was up by 0.6 percent as compared to July 2010.

The revenue increase is driven by strong individual income tax collection, which was up 9.3 percent over the same time last year.

Sales taxes remain stagnant, according to state budget director Linda Luebbering. She blames low sales tax collection on a stubbornly high unemployment rate.

“They’re still looking around them and seeing that there are still folks without jobs. That job turnaround really has got to happen before people will be confident enough to start spending money on anything that just food and gas,” Luebbering said.

But the small overall increase in revenue was enough to convince Governor Jay Nixon to release 1.2 million dollars for social programs.

Funding will go to the Area Agencies on Aging, domestic violence shelters and crisis care services for children who are at risk for abuse and neglect.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

Posted in: general revenue,Linda Luebbering,unemployment