How Sales Tax Dollars Are Used

Use of Sales Taxes

When you purchase an item from a Miami County business, the sales tax you pay is divided among the state, Miami County and the city where the business is located. The same thing happens when you purchase an item from a business outside of the county and have it delivered to your location within Miami County. In many instances, major online retailers also collect sales tax for items sold on the internet. Those sales tax dollars are used to provide governmental services.

How Do The Numbers Really Add Up?

Miami County has 12,771 households. If each household simply shifted $20 of their weekly non-local spending to a Miami County business, it would generate more than $13.5 million in new sales at local businesses for more than $200,000 in new annual sales tax revenue. 

The greater Louisburg area has 3,110 households. If each household shifted $20 of weekly non-local spending to the City of Louisburg, it would generate almost $3.3 million in new sales at local businesses, creating almost $49,000 in annual city sales tax. 

The greater Osawatomie area has 2,486 households. If each household shifted $20 of weekly non-local spending to the City of Osawatomie, it would generate more than $2.5 million in sales at local businesses, generating more than $45,000 in annual city sales tax. 

The greater Paola area has 5,017 households. If each household shifted $20 of weekly non-local spending to the City of Paola, it would create more than $5.2 million in new annual sales at local businesses, creating sales tax in excess of $65,000.

The greater Spring Hill area has 5,445 households. If each household shifted $20 of weekly non-local spending to the City of Spring Hill, it would generate more than $5.6 million in sales at local businesses and more than $84,000 in annual sales tax. (Source: U.S. Census)

Current Sales Tax Rates for Nonfood Purchases

*Miami County portion of Spring Hill

A base portion of each of those rates, 6.50%, is returned to the state for its general fund and transportation expenses. Miami County captures another 1.5% which is primarily used for transportation-related expenses, construction of the jail, and some general fund uses. The remaining percentages are kept by the cities and used for various operations.

City Sales Tax Breakdown