Story provided by Oklahoma Treasurer’s Office
Oklahoma Gross Receipts to the Treasury indicate the state economy continues to expand as the monthly report shows growth of more than 16 percent in October, State Treasurer Ken Miller announced Friday.
Monthly gross receipts, at $1.1 billion, and total 12-month gross receipts, at $12.7 billion, are the highest on record for October and any 12-month period.
“Oklahoma’s economy is showing signs of ongoing expansion as reflected in Gross Receipts to the Treasury and other economic indicators,” Treasurer Miller said. “Work force data is most encouraging with unemployment listed at 3.5 percent and oil field employment set at 55,600 – up by 12,800 from two years ago.”
Individual income tax collections reflect the strong employment picture with receipts showing growth of more than 9 percent over the past 12 months. Sales tax receipts have grown by almost 10 percent during the same time period.
The gross production tax on crude oil and natural gas has grown the most, though changes in tax rates are boosting the numbers. Gross production receipts for the past 12 months are up by more than 70 percent, while October receipts are almost double those of the same month last year.
All major revenue streams for October and the past 12 months show growth.
New Tax Revenue
Revenue generated by increased tax rates approved in House Bill 1010XX earlier this year added $55.3 million to monthly collections, 4.9 percent of October gross receipts.
The largest share, $30.8 million, came from the increase from 2 percent to 5 percent in the incentive tax rate on oil and natural gas gross production. Higher tax rates on gasoline and diesel fuel generated $11.3 million, and the $1 per pack hike in cigarette taxes added $13.2 million to October’s total.
Other indicators
The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index has topped growth neutral for 15 consecutive months. The October index was set at 55.0, down from 57.6 in September. Numbers above 50 indicate anticipated economic growth during the next three to six months.
Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in September is down by two-tenths of a percentage point from August. The U.S. jobless rate of 3.7 percent is down by the same percentage from the prior month, according to figures released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.
October collections
October gross collections total $1.1 billion, up $158.3 million, or 16.1 percent, from October 2017.
Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $369.5 million, an increase of $46.2 million, or 14.3 percent, from the previous October.
Individual income tax collections for the month are $352 million, up by $43 million, or 13.9 percent, from the prior year. Corporate collections are $17.5 million, an increase of $3.2 million, or 22.6 percent.
Sales tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $402.6 million in October. That is $18.4 million, or 4.8 percent, more than October 2017.
Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas generated $102.1 million in October, an increase of $50 million, or 96.2 percent, from last October. Compared to September reports, gross production remittances are down by $3.3 million, or 3.1 percent.
Motor vehicle taxes produced $66 million, up by $2.1 million, or 3.2 percent, from the same month of 2017.
Other collections, consisting of about 60 different sources including use taxes, along with taxes on fuel, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages, produced $198.4 million during the month. That is $41.6 million, or 26.5 percent, more than last October.
Twelve-month collections
Gross revenue totals $12.7 billion from the past 12 months. That is $1.4 billion, or 12.9 percent, more than collections from the previous 12 months.
Gross income taxes generated $4.4 billion for the period, reflecting an increase of $427.5 million, or 10.8 percent, from the prior 12 months.
Individual income tax collections total $3.9 billion, up by $327.6 million, or 9.2 percent, from the prior 12 months. Corporate collections are $497.6 million for the period, an increase of $100 million, or 25.1 percent, over the previous period.
Sales taxes for the 12 months generated $4.8 billion, an increase of $433 million, or 9.9 percent, from the prior period.
Oil and gas gross production tax collections brought in $860.2 million during the 12 months, up by $358.4 million, or 71.4 percent, from the previous period.
Motor vehicle collections total $776.7 million for the period. This is an increase of $14.7 million, or 1.9 percent, from the trailing period.
Other sources generated $1.9 billion, up by $214 million, or 12.9 percent, from the previous 12 months.
About Gross Receipts to the Treasury
The Office of the State Treasurer has issued the monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report since March 2011 to provide a timely and broad view of the state’s macro economy.
It is released in conjunction with the General Revenue Fund allocation report from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which provides important information to state agencies for budgetary planning purposes.
The General Revenue Fund receives less than half of the state’s gross receipts with the remainder paid in rebates and refunds, remitted to cities and counties, and placed into off-the-top earmarks to other state funds.
