Buy the Way...Keep it Local!
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You Make The Difference
Help make a difference in your community by participating in Amarillo's Buy the Way, Keep it Local movement. By taking the BTW pledge to prioritize buying local whenever possible, you will be identified as a BTW Business and receive numerous benefits as a qualifying member. Take the pledge and become a BTW Member today for just a $45.00. Click here for more information. |
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December 10, 2018
On behalf of the City of Amarillo and the Chamber, we want to give you an important update regarding sales tax collections and the BTW Campaign.
Sales tax revenue is the largest source of funding for City of Amarillo. The sales tax money from individuals buying products and services in Amarillo accounts for about 32% of the City of Amarillo’s general revenue fund. In other words, sales tax revenue represents about 32% of the money that helps provide the salaries of Amarillo Police Department officers and members of the Amarillo Fire Department, as well as the funds that help pay for city parks, splash pads and city streets and roads.
Sales tax revenue can fluctuate depending on purchasing levels – how often people buy the products and services produced in Amarillo. This is why buying local is so vitally important to all Amarillo residents. And this is why the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” campaign was created.
Just before Thanksgiving of 2017, the City of Amarillo and the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce kicked off the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” initiative. And there has been success.
As of September, the City of Amarillo had nine straight months of sales tax increases compared to 2017. There was an overall increase of 2.99 % for the 2017-2018 fiscal year compared to the same time frame of 2017.
So what does this mean? It means about $1.6 million in revenue for the city’s general fund.
For November 2018, local sales tax collections totaled $7,082,897 – an increase from $6,669,063 from one year ago. As of November, the total was $71,299,255 in local sales tax collections for the calendar year – an increase from $68,524,592 from a year ago.
This is good news – and evidence that the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” campaign is making a difference. Speaking of making a difference, Amarillo businesses can make a difference by participating in the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” effort.
How? Take the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” pledge. Become a BTW business or organization. Buy local, and be identified as a “BTW Business.”
There are many ways to participate, and many advantages and benefits as a qualifying member. All the information is available at www.BTWAmarillo.com.
Technology has changed the way products and services are purchased. What has not changed is the importance of city government in our lives – from emergency services to family outings at the park to the roads and streets upon which we travel on a daily basis.
Buying local reminds us of how we pay our first responders, how we pay to keep our parks clean and how we maintain our city streets. We encourage you to participate by becoming a “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” business/organization.
Sincerely,
Gary Molberg, President & CEO Ginger Nelson, Mayor
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce City of Amarillo
On behalf of the City of Amarillo and the Chamber, we want to give you an important update regarding sales tax collections and the BTW Campaign.
Sales tax revenue is the largest source of funding for City of Amarillo. The sales tax money from individuals buying products and services in Amarillo accounts for about 32% of the City of Amarillo’s general revenue fund. In other words, sales tax revenue represents about 32% of the money that helps provide the salaries of Amarillo Police Department officers and members of the Amarillo Fire Department, as well as the funds that help pay for city parks, splash pads and city streets and roads.
Sales tax revenue can fluctuate depending on purchasing levels – how often people buy the products and services produced in Amarillo. This is why buying local is so vitally important to all Amarillo residents. And this is why the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” campaign was created.
Just before Thanksgiving of 2017, the City of Amarillo and the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce kicked off the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” initiative. And there has been success.
As of September, the City of Amarillo had nine straight months of sales tax increases compared to 2017. There was an overall increase of 2.99 % for the 2017-2018 fiscal year compared to the same time frame of 2017.
So what does this mean? It means about $1.6 million in revenue for the city’s general fund.
For November 2018, local sales tax collections totaled $7,082,897 – an increase from $6,669,063 from one year ago. As of November, the total was $71,299,255 in local sales tax collections for the calendar year – an increase from $68,524,592 from a year ago.
This is good news – and evidence that the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” campaign is making a difference. Speaking of making a difference, Amarillo businesses can make a difference by participating in the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” effort.
How? Take the “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” pledge. Become a BTW business or organization. Buy local, and be identified as a “BTW Business.”
There are many ways to participate, and many advantages and benefits as a qualifying member. All the information is available at www.BTWAmarillo.com.
Technology has changed the way products and services are purchased. What has not changed is the importance of city government in our lives – from emergency services to family outings at the park to the roads and streets upon which we travel on a daily basis.
Buying local reminds us of how we pay our first responders, how we pay to keep our parks clean and how we maintain our city streets. We encourage you to participate by becoming a “Buy the Way – Keep it Local” business/organization.
Sincerely,
Gary Molberg, President & CEO Ginger Nelson, Mayor
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce City of Amarillo
