Sales tax diversions paid to the city of Brookhaven for October may have been lower than the previous three months, but the numbers are still up compared to 2018.

October’s $465,359.46 is less than the July-September’s average of approximately $488,500. It is higher, however, than October 2018, when receipts totaled $455,024.15. Year-to-date totals for the 2019-2020 fiscal year are more than $1.9 million, while respective totals from the 2018-2019 fiscal year were $1.86 million.

Statewide receipts of $36,799,424.19 were a mere $30,000 less than the previous month, but $720,000 higher than October 2018. Year-to-date total for the state was $150.1 million, up from the previous year’s respective total of $148 million.

The two cities in the state closest in residential population to Brookhaven are McComb and Cleveland, slightly more and slightly less, respectively. McComb’s diversions for October were $451,599.56 down $10,000 from September, but $54,000 higher than 2018. The city’s year-to-date receipts are $111.95 over 2018’s total — $1,840,371.62.

Cleveland’s October receipts were $323,598.06, down almost $30,000 from September’s number, but still higher than previous months and $10,000 more than October 2018. The Delta city’s year-to-date total was $1,249,670.52, up $87,150 from the previous year.

Thirty-three cities across the Magnolia State have larger populations than Brookhaven. Of these, 15 brought in lower tax receipts than Brookhaven — Brandon, Canton, Clarksdale, Clinton, Gautier, Greenwood, Grenada, Hernando, Horn Lake, Long Beach, McComb, Moss Point, Natchez, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula.

The capital city of Jackson, with the largest population of any city in the Magnolia State, brought in $2,281,294.15, down approximately $120,000 from September. Seven other cities brought in receipts of $1.03 million to $1.8 million each.

The Delta town of Duncan brought in zero dollars and has a year-to-date total of the same. Thirty-three other cities or towns brought in sales tax receipts of less than $1,000 for October, including such towns as Silver City, Falcon, Eden, Alligator and Chunky.

Sales tax data is provided by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Sales tax has a three month cycle. In Month 1, tax is collected by the retailer. In Month 2, tax is reported and paid to the Department of Revenue by the retailer. In Month 3, diversion is paid by the Department of Revenue to the cities. This report is based on the month the tax is collected at the Department of Revenue (Month 2).