Brookhaven sales tax collections for March fell below the$300,000 level, yet the city still managed to place in the Top 20statewide, according to totals from the Mississippi TaxCommission.

Brookhaven sales tax collections for March fell below the$300,000 level, yet the city still managed to place in the Top 20statewide, according to totals from the Mississippi TaxCommission.

At $292,275.48, the March 2001 total was down about $30,000 fromMarch 2000’s $322,788.91. This year’s total put the city 20th amongtop sales tax collectors.

Chandler Russ, executive vice-president of theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, said the March 2000total was abnormal in that it represented a 20 percent increaseover the same period in 1999. He said that contributed to the 2000to 2001 comparison numbers being “a bit skewed.”

“We have a positive outlook for our local economy because weknow that our retail businesses and services provide qualityproducts to the customers,” Russ said.

Brookhaven was not alone with falling sales tax totals. Russsaid collection for 16 of the Top 20 dropped from March 2000 whileonly four saw increases.

In fiscal year 2001 to date totals, Russ said Brookhaven isrunning about 5 percent ahead of its 2000 pace. This year, the citytotal was $2,800,836.49 while it was $2,698,581.84 to the samepoint in 2000.

“Our local economy, from a services standpoint, is strong,” Russsaid. “We look forward to seeing some strong months ahead.”

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collectionsdipped to $334,487.00 in March sales tax. The March 2001 total,which placed the city 17th in the state, represented a decrease ofabout $10,000 from the March 2000 total of $344,294.91.

In year-to-date totals, McComb had $3,113,542.23 in 2001 and$3,073,051.10 in 2000.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $16,261.17 inMarch sales tax, a decrease from last March’s $18,064.29. For theyears-to-date, the town’s 2001 total was $164,475.47, about $13,000below 2000’s $177,683.32.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $30,112.52 forthe city’s share of March 2001 sales tax, down slightly from March2000’s $30,866.83. The city’s 2001 year-to-date total continued tobe a little off its 2000 pace: $275,700.71 this year and$282,118.29 last year.

Wesson businesses’ March sales tax collections climbed to$9,884.34 compared to $9,392.67 last March. Its year-to-date totalwas still a little behind with $86,955.89 this year and $90,059.83last year.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$7,063.62 for the town, an approximately $1,400 decrease comparedto March 2000’s $8,453.78. For 2001, its yearly total was$69,129.34 and $70,651.24 in 2000.

Meadville merchants took in $8,450.05 in March 2001, aconsiderable decrease from March 2000 with $10,760.19. Yearlytotals show the town with $84,032.67 in 2001 collections and$73,991.89 in 2000 collections.