WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. July 11, 2007: City Sales Tax Receipts for the final quarter of the fiscal year 2007-2007 will set a record, according to City Chief Financial Officer, Gina Cuneo-Harwood, speaking to WPCNR this morning. Harwood said she is expecting one final payment report and that city sales tax numbers for the final quarter should set a record. The city was projecting $43 Million in the 2007-2008 budget passed in May.

Gina Cuneo-Harwood, City Chief Financial Officer, center at the City Budget & Management
Committee in February, 2007. Her good news on sales tax she gave then, appears to be holding up into the fourth quarter.

At of the end of the third quarter, the city had collected $34 Million in sales taxes for 2006-2007.  The First Quarter clocked in at $10 Million; second quarter, 11.9 Million, and for the third, $12.1 Million, totalling $34 Million and change. Should the city take in $10 Million the city will attain the $44 Million level in sales tax with a full year of Wal-Mart, providing a surplus over what was budgeted for 2007-2008. 

If the final quarter does at least as well as last year's April-May-June final quarter handle of $9.4 Million, the budget target of $43 Million will be achieved. If the April-May-June quarter, marked by excellent weather and very warm days, hits $10 to $11 Million or more  a surplus of up to $3 Million may be reached. The best White Plains has ever done in the October-November-December make-or-break quarter was reached last December with $11.9 Million in the till, meaning the city may be turning the corner in their budget struggle.