Community officials celebrated a near-record sales tax total forJanuary, a number that has put the city back on track for a strongcollections year.

“It’s certainly one of the best numbers we’ve ever had,” MayorBob Massengill said of the city’s $487.673.36 sales tax share forJanuary 2007.

The total represents sales made in December and placedBrookhaven 25th statewide in sales tax rankings.

“I’m excited with the number,” Massengill said.

The January 2007 total was down from January 2006’s $516,293.69, but officials acknowledge some skewing of last year’s totaldue to effects following Hurricane Katrina. Last month’s totalcompares very favorably to January 2005’s $398,957,87 total.

The mayor also pointed out a positive effect on the city’sbudget projections. He said the city’s budgeted to receive $385,000a month from sales tax collections in the current fiscal year,which started in October.

Prior to January’s total, the city was averaging only $357,000 amonth from sales tax. With the January total, the monthly averageis up to $401,000, the mayor said.

“This has gotten us back up to where we need to be,” Massengillsaid.

The mayor went on to express the importance of continued supportof local merchants.

“If people will continue to shop at home, we’ll end up with agood year,” he said.

He said shopping at home only helps the city, but individualretail businesses as well.

“We need people to shop at home,” he said. “That makes ourcommunity viable.”