Published by Weatherford Democrat on February 9, 2019

At the end of the last fiscal year, October 2017 through September 2018, the city of Willow Park made history collecting $1,001,798 in sales tax revenue and is now on track to surpass that amount this fiscal year.

According to the city, at this time last year the city had collected $360,051 in sales tax revenue and has already collected $455,891 since the start of the 2018-19 fiscal year, which began in October. 

City Manager Bryan Grimes said WP is averaging roughly $91,000 each month in sales tax revenue and at this pace, should eclipse last year’s total.

“Increased sales tax numbers equate to lower property taxes for our residents but we also feel it shows economic stability and vitality for the city of Willow Park,” Grimes said. “We congratulate all the local businesses whose tireless efforts make it possible for our community to be economically strong.”

Willow Park North, an area of land behind and next to The Shops at Willow Park, is expected to bring even more businesses to the city. 

Developer of Willow Park North, Wilks Development, is planning to include town homes, multi-family apartments, single-family homes, retail and office space, a hotel, an amphitheater and community events center.

“The Shops at Willow Park is probably one of the biggest economic improvements we’ve had in the city,” Grimes said at a previous city council meeting.

WP Mayor Doyle Moss said the sales tax revenue shows there is a good partnership between the city, businesses and community.

“I think this is a tribute to our businesses and the job they do in our city making people want to come to Willow Park,” Moss said. “The additional sales tax is going to help us with projects that we need to do. It will help us with our water and our roads and other issues we have, so I think we have a great group of people that do a great job with the businesses and I think we have a great relationship with people.”

For more information, visit www.willowpark.org.

Weatherford Democrat reporter Autumn Owens contributed to this report.