Brookhaven continued to post good sales tax numbers inSeptember, although the city was nudged out of the state Top 20collectors for the month, according to totals from the MississippiTax Commission.

Last month, Brookhaven’s share of sales tax collections was$350,565.45. The total was up more than $24,000 from the$326,028.18 collected for September 2002.

“We’re really doing well,” said Chandler Russ,Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce executivevice-president.

Russ said the September total reflects the heart of thechamber’s Shop at Home campaign. He was pleased with theresults.

“I think the September total serves as a reminder of howimportant it is to shop locally and buy locally,” said Russ, whothanked shoppers for patronizing Brookhaven and Lincoln Countybusinesses and businesses for providing goods and services thatshoppers want.

Brookhaven ranked 21st among the top sales tax collectors inSeptember. By less than $250, Starkville’s $350,781.79 edged outBrookhaven to claim the 20th spot among top sales taxcollectors.

“We always run neck and neck with Starkville and Oxford,” saidRuss. “During the football season, they pass us.”

September’s total pushed Brookhaven over the $1 million mark incollections for the fiscal year, which began July 1.

Russ said the city is running about 8 percent ahead of its paceduring the last fiscal year. In year-to-date collections,Brookhaven had $1,045,263.45 in 2003, compared to $967,256.60 atthe same point in 2002.

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collections roseto $378,408.23 from September sales tax. The September 2003 total,which placed the city 18th in the state, represented an increase ofabout $26,000 from the September 2002 total of $352,346.17.

After three months of the state’s fiscal year, McComb had$1,187,377.28 in 2003 and $1,087,026.84 at the same point in2002.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $19,990,86 inSeptember sales tax, an increase from last September’s $17,774.68.So far in the fiscal year, the city had $59,608.82 this yearcompared to $55,094.06 last year.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $34,753.25 forthe city’s share of September 2002 sales tax, which was almost thesame as September 2002’s $34,327.04. The city was also ahead infiscal year to date collections with $101,886.57 in 2003 and$97,243.21 in 2002.

Wesson businesses’ September sales tax collections were up about$1,600 to $10,428.68, compared to $8,801.10 last September. In yearto date collections, the town had $32,722.74 for 2003 and$27,562.47 in 2002.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$7,760.55 for the town, which was up some versus September 2002’s$7,375.26. The town remained just off its year to date pace, with$24,044.51 in 2003 and $24,800.93 last year.

Meadville merchants took in $8,516.48 in September 2002, whichwas up some from September 2002 with $8,011.68. The town remainedahead of its 2002 pace with $26,507.24 this year and $23,759.85last year.