Sales tax down for December nearly 14 percent

GLUCKSTADT — Despite concerns over a dip in sales tax returns at the end of last year, city officials say businesses continue to open in the city.

In December 2023, the Lucky City reported $229,764 in sales tax returns, according to the state Department of Revenue. The DOR returns a percentage of sales tax collected to municipalities.

That number is down $31,847 from Dec. 2022 when Gluckstadt collected $261,611 in sales tax returns.

Gluckstadt Mayor Walter C. Morrison said he does not know why diversions were down but posited it could be an impact of conditions nationally in the economy.

“I don't know the real answer,” Morrison said.

He said he is concerned but noted that business people still want to do business in the city. 

“We are truly blessed to have a vibrant business community in Gluckstadt,” If you told me 20 years ago we would have a thriving business community here I would have said you are crazy because it was all cornfields back then.”

Morrison said he was happy to report the city has maintained a clip of multiple ribbon cuttings a month for some time now and said the business community often came out to support new businesses. With some ribbons cuttings he’s seeing crowds that include as many as 40 other business owners, he said.