June city sales tax collections were up by $9,211.18 in Brookhaven compared to June 2012 tax receipts, according to figures released recently by the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

June 2013 sales tax collections totaled $442,208.71 in the city, while receipts were $431,960.25 for the same month a year ago.

City sales tax is processed on a three-month cycle. The tax revenue collected in June was sent to the Mississippi Department of Revenue in July and then paid to the city in August.

The Department of Revenue also operates on a July 1-to-June 30 fiscal year, based on the month the tax collections are sent to the state (month two of the three-month cycle). Therefore, June’s collections apply to FY 2013-2014 figures.

Looking back, Brookhaven’s total sales tax collections for FY 2012-2013 were $5,204,119, which reflected an increase of nearly $104,250 from the previous year’s $5,099,870.

While overall collections are trending higher for the previous 12 months, Brookhaven’s June 2013 city sales tax collections did show a $16,113.43 decrease from May 2013’s $458,322.14 receipts.

Despite the recent dip, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Director Garrick Combs is optimistic about upcoming tax collections for July and August sales.

“Generally, city revenue can be directly proportional to the weather. People are more likely to spend larger amounts of money – such as on cars or appliances – during the warmer weather months,” he said.

Combs also expects to see a bump in sales revenue due to back-to-school spending.

The Department of Revenue’s July report on June tax collections showed Brookhaven with the 24th highest total in the state.

Within the region, McComb ranked highest, coming in at 20th in the state. The Pike County seat’s $474,018.53 June collections reflected a $14,436.31 increase from the $459,582.22 collected for the same month a year ago.

Coming in at 21st in the state, Natchez’s June 2013 tax collections totaled $464,807.35, up from the $444,300.28 collected in the same month a year ago. Natchez posted the largest increase for the month in the region – $20,507.07.

In other area cities, Monticello collected $40,236.78 this June, down by $609.27 from the $40,846.05 collected in June 2012.

Summit posted tax collections of $36,555.77 in June 2013, up by $3,419.41 from the $33,136.36 collected in June 2012.

Wesson’s tax collections for June totaled $14,435.06, down by $1,671.34 from June 2012’s $16,106.40 receipts.

Bude collected $12,535.32 in June, up by $2,330.51 from the $10,204.81 collected in June 2012.

Meadville’s June 2013 collections of $10,970.23 reflected an $853.23 increase from June 2012’s $10,117 collections.