With the sales tax numbers for September in the books,Brookhaven’s collections saw a slight increase to help it leadSouthwest Mississippi communities.

In September of this year, the Mississippi Department of Revenuediversions to cities from sales tax collections for Brookhaven was$402,285.52. That is $1,631.54 more than last year’s Septembertotal and allowed the city to meet its $400,000 monthly budgetexpected from sales tax.

For the month, Brookhaven placed 21st among the state’s top saletax collectors.

While the number may only be a slight increase, it is not adecrease. Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce ExecutiveVice President Cliff Brumfield said the sales tax numbers are agood sign.

“Brookhaven continues to see numbers showing a slight rebound fromlast year,” Brumfield said. “As expected, our numbers havecontinued to improve and we hope it continues.”

While Brumfield had hoped to see numbers in the $415,000 range, hementioned that it is always good to see an increase.

“We didn’t see the growth we had hoped to see, but nevertheless,we’re in great shape,” Brumfield said.

The sales numbers for Brookhaven will hopefully continue to growthanks to continued area development.

“New jobs are being created in 2011 by Rex Lumber Company, growthby King’s Daughter Medical Center and growth in other projects willcontinue to improve sales tax returns,” Brumfield said.

The chamber executive vice president credited some of Brookhaven’scontinued progress toward recovery to the advancement of shoppingopportunities, locally owned stores, standing as a primary motorvehicle outlet, being a medical hub for Southwest Mississippi andthe visitors the city receives from surrounding areas.

Brookhaven’s neighbors, McComb and Natchez, were not as fortunatewhen comparing their September numbers from last year. Bothcommunities’ totals for this September were down from the same timeperiod last year.

Brookhaven can now boast having outsold McComb and Natchez fivetimes out of the past 11 months.

Mayor Les Bumgarner enjoyed reporting the sales tax numbers atTuesday’s board of alderman meeting.

“We appreciate people shopping in Brookhaven, it makes adifference,” Bumgarner said. “Shop at home.”

Since July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year, Brookhaven hascollected $1,255,706.21 in sales tax revenue. That is roughly$23,000 more than the total at the same point last year.