While state revenue totals lag, Brookhaven sales tax collectionsmaintain a good growth pattern over the same period in 1999,according to chamber of commerce officials and Mississippi TaxCommission statistics.

Brookhaven’s September sales tax collections totaled$317,867.23, almost $11,000 more than September 1999 collections of$306,905.43. The 2000 total placed the city at number at No. 20 instatewide collection rankings.

“We’re still staying ahead of the state,” said Chandler Russ,executive vice-president of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamberof Commerce.

For the month of September, the city’s 2000 collections wereabout 4 percent ahead of 1999 numbers.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2000, which started July 1,numbers were even better. For July-September 2000, the city hadtaken in $958,686.66 for its share of sales tax, while it had$904,524.11 for the same period in 1999.

The increase represented about a 6 percent growth rate, Russsaid. He expected monthly and quarterly totals for the rest of theyear to be in the 4-6 percent range.

“I think that’s a realistic number, judging by our curent andpast growth,” Russ said.

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collectionsreached $354,124.48 in September sales tax, good enough for 17thplace statewide. The September 2000 total represented an increaseof about $24,000 from the September 1999 total of $330,257.24.

In year-to-date totals, McComb had $1,037,481.12 in 2000 and$1,005,494.88 in 1999.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $19,287.17 inSeptember sales tax, a decrease from last September’s $21,654.05.For the years-to-date, the town’s 2000 total was $58,281.76, below1999’s $64,165.12.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $31,361.11 forthe city’s share of September 2000 sales tax, a small increase overSeptember 1999’s $29,884.89. The city’s 2000 year-to-date total wasjust ahead of its 1999 pace: $94,366.11 this year and $94,171.60last year.

Wesson businesses’ September sales tax collections were up to$9,610.64 compared to $9,308.73 last September. Its year-to-datetotal, though, was down slightly at $28,118.30 this year and$28,838.35 last year.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$7,392.51 for the town, an increase compared to September 1999’s$7,190.20. For 2000, its yearly total was $23,412.32 and $22,834.02in 1999.

Meadville merchants took in $9,086.81 in September 2000, a bigincrease from September 1999 with $6,985.47. Yearly totals show thetown with $27,124.23 in 2000 collections and $22,828.10 in 1999collections.