Granite Shoals profits from sales tax

Granite Shoals city council members got some good news at their regular meeting Tuesday, April 23.

City finances showed a profit in March of $2,040.82 over February.

Figures showed the city began March with $14,207,715.22 in the bank and ended with $14,209,756.04.

The difference, city staff said, was due in large part to an increase in sales tax revenue.

State Comptroller figures showed Granite Shoals submitted $38,726.15 in sales taxes in March of last year. That jumped to $43,085.72 this year.

Police Chief John Ortis, asked about an in- crease in traffic citations over last month while ac- tual traffic stops dropped, said it’s not a change in police policy but a change in behavior.

In February, Granite Shoals police made 218 traffic stops; that dropped to 92 in March. But the number of citations rose from 48 in February to 122 last month.

“We’re seeing an uptick in unlicensed drivers, uninsured motorists, driving with an expired registration,” he told the council.

Ortis said most of the citations came as a result of traffic stops for other reasons.