April sales tax collections kept Brookhaven in the Top 20statewide and gave the city one of its best collections monthsever, chamber of commerce officials said.

The city’s $327,400.04 April 2001 total was over $7,500 morethan its April 2000 total of $319,639.63. Brookhaven held on to the20th spot in statewide city sales tax rankings.

“We rebounded nicely,” said Chandler Russ, executivevice-president of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber ofCommerce, following a lackluster March total. “April has alwaysbeen one of our strongest months.”

The monthly total was about 2.5 percent ahead of last April. Inthe Top 20, Brookhaven was one of 15 cities to post increases fromthe previous April while five saw lower collection totals.

“It’s one of the biggest collections we’ve ever had,” Russ said.”It’s definitely in the Top 10.”

In year to date totals, the city has $3,128,236.53 in 2001 andhad $3,018,221.47 to the same point in 2000. Russ said thatrepresented about 5 percent growth, which was ahead of thestatewide rate and likely the best in southwest Mississippi.

“It’s further evidence that we’re developing into a regionalcenter for sales and services,” Russ said. “We’ll continue in thatdirection.”

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collectionsclimbed to $365,609.30 in April sales tax. The April 2001 total,which placed the city 17th in the state, represented an increase ofabout $3,400 from the April 2000 total of $362,217.96.

In year-to-date totals, McComb had $3,479,151.53 in 2001 and$3,435,269.06 in 2000.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $19,445.39 inApril sales tax, a decrease from last April’s $20,829.80. For theyears-to-date, the town’s 2001 total was $183,920.86, about $15,000below 2000’s $198,513.12.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $32,579.26 forthe city’s share of April 2001 sales tax, down over $4,000 fromApril 2000’s $36,782.96. The city’s 2001 year-to-date totalcontinued to be a little off its 2000 pace: $308,279.97 this yearand $318,901.25 last year.

Wesson businesses’ April sales tax collections climbed to$10,379.97 a healthy increase compared to $7,823.26 last April. Itsyear-to-date total was still slightly behind with $97,335.86 thisyear and $97,883.09 last year.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$8,695.99 for the town, a slight increase compared to April 2000’s$8,444.74. For 2001, its yearly total was $77,825.33 and $79,095.98in 2000.

Meadville merchants took in $8,610.32 in April 2001, a smallincrease from April 2000 with $8,365.68. Yearly totals show thetown with $92,642.99 in 2001 collections and $82,357.57 in 2000collections.