Brookhaven continued to post healthy sales tax numbers inOctober as the city again topped the $300,000 plateau, according tostatistics from the Mississippi Tax Commission.

Brookhaven continued to post healthy sales tax numbers inOctober as the city again topped the $300,000 plateau, according tostatistics from the Mississippi Tax Commission.

At $308,974.07, the city’s collections were more than $20,000ahead of October 1999’s $288,825.59. For the month, the city ranked20th in statewide collection numbers.

City Clerk Iris Rudman said October tax diversions representSeptember collections from August sales. She attributed the goodnumbers to clothing, supplies and other back to schoolpurchases.

With Christmas on the horizon and this being the busiestshopping weekend of the year, Rudman predicted some greatcollections for the months ahead.

“This next month ought to be a good month, and January ought tobe a real good month,” Rudman said.

Sales from November and December will not be reflected in taxcommission diversion totals until after the first of the year.However, Rudman indicated the city could see some benefits ofholiday shopping sooner.

“It’s according to when people start Christmas shopping,” shesaid.

Also, with cooler weather arriving, sales of winter merchandisewill also play a role. Rudman expected collections in the nearfuture to easily surpass the $308,000 total of October.

“I’m looking for us to have three excellent months,” Rudmansaid.

In year to date collections, which started July 1, Brookhavenhad $1,267,660.73 in 2000 and $1,193,349.70 during the same periodin 1999.

Rudman said local merchants were doing a lot to attract and keepshoppers in town. She said the merchants deserve credit forstocking more merchandise and for providing more shoppingopportunities in the form of new stores.

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collectionsreached $332,785.30 in October sales tax, good enough for 18thplace statewide. The October 2000 total represented an increase ofabout $13,000 from the October 1999 total of $319,315.16.

In year-to-date totals, McComb had $1,370,266.42 in 2000 and$1,324,810.04 in 1999.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $19,602.17 inOctober sales tax, a decrease from last October’s $20,595.73. Forthe years-to-date, the town’s 2000 total was $77,883.93, below1999’s $84,760.85.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $29,459.24 forthe city’s share of October 2000 sales tax, a slight decrease fromOctober 1999’s $30,390.32. The city’s 2000 year-to-date total was alittle off its 1999 pace: $123,825.35 this year and $124,561.92last year.

Wesson businesses’ October sales tax collections were down to$9,982.91 compared to $10,646.90 last October. Its year-to-datetotal was also down some at $38,101.21 this year and $39,485.25last year.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$8,322.04 for the town, a little increase compared to October1999’s $8,037.44. For 2000, its yearly total was $31,734.36 and$30,871.46 in 1999.

Meadville merchants took in $9,775.65 in October 2000, a goodincrease from October 1999 with $8,540.44. Yearly totals show thetown with $36,899.88 in 2000 collections and $31,368.54 in 1999collections.