Brookhaven’s sales tax collections slipped in September as thecity fell just outside the state’s Top 25 collectors, according tototals from the Mississippi Tax Commission.

With $382,064.57, Brookhaven placed 26th in the state. Thecity’s total last month was down more than $5,000 from September2005’s total of $387,745.72.

“We were a little disappointed,” said Mayor Bob Massengill ofthe latest numbers.

Brookhaven, though, was not alone in declining totals.Massengill said 14 of 24 cities with populations close toBrookhaven saw their totals fall from August.

“It’s not just us,” the mayor said. ‘There were other townsexperiencing decreases.”

For the year to date, Brookhaven’s 2006 total still was over$100,000 ahead of last year’s. This year, the city has taken in$1,192,214.45 compared to $1,082,441.90 at the same point in2005.

Massengill said the city budgets $385,000 a month from salestax.

During the summer months, the mayor said the city surpassed the$400,000 mark. He was optimistic the city would meet its budgetedamount in future months.

“We certainly feel $385,000 is conservative and attainable,” themayor said.

That, however, will depend on citizens continuing to shoplocally.

“That is tremendously important to the merchants and to theoperations of the city,” Massengill said.