Brookhaven’s share of sales tax collections for March showedgood growth, but some other communities out paced Homeseeker’sParadise in monthly rankings, according to totals from theMississippi Tax Commission.

With $315,760.81 last month, Brookhaven’s portion was up almost$15,000 over March 2003’s $301,106.27.

“It was good to see we had continued steady growth,” saidChandler Russ, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerceexecutive vice-president. “We grew about 5 percent, which is justabove the state, and we’re at almost 6 percent growth for theyear.”

Brookhaven’s fiscal year-to-date collections topped the $3million mark in March. In fiscal year 2004, the city had$3,038,613.20 compared to $2,866,159.94 compared to the same pointin fiscal year 2003.

In monthly rankings, however, Brookhaven slipped to 24th in thestate. Russ cited healthy economic activity by Olive Branch andHorn Lake.

“Both of those, being on the outskirts of Memphis, experiencedphenomenal growth,” Russ said. “I think you’ll continue to see themin the Top 25.”

Russ said Brookhaven’s collection are still solid and healthynumbers.

“We’re real pleased with that, even though they slipped a littlebit in the rankings,” Russ said.

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collected$378,545.87 as its share of March sales tax.

McComb’s March 2004 total, which kept the city 16th in statewiderankings, represented a increase of about $24,000 over the March2003 total of $354,231.83. For the fiscal year, McComb had$3,460,338.52 in 2004 and $3,276,037.20 at the same point in2003.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $14,443.03 inMarch sales tax, a decrease from last March’s $16,447.16. So far inthe fiscal year, the city had $166,858.32 this year compared to$148,865.58 last year.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $30,941.52 forthe city’s share of March 2004 sales tax, which was only a fewdollars less than March 2003’s $30968.29. The city remained aheadin fiscal year to date collections with $300,342.87 in 2004 and$287,351.33 in 2003.

Wesson businesses’ March sales tax collections were up to$11,086.87, compared to $8,816.42 last March. In fiscal year todate collections, the town had $97,241.90 for 2004 and $82,584.40in 2003.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$6,864.76 for the town, which was up slightly from March 2003’s$6,621.30. The town stayed ahead of its fiscal year to date pace,with $71,149.24 in 2004 and $67,603.95 last year.

Meadville merchants took in $8,422.85 in March 2004, which waswell above March 2003 with $7,620.16. In total fiscal yearcollections, the town had $75,755.29 this year and $73,340.66 atthe same point last year.