The city of Brookhaven brought in $434,172.65 in sales tax for the month of March.

Up approximately $2,700 from February, the amount is down somewhat from 2019’s $437,490.64. The year-to-date total of $4.297 million is higher, however, than the same measure one year ago at $4.245 million.

While the closure of many businesses in the wake of COVID-19 precautions may have temporarily affected the monthly sales tax figures, the year-to-date total remains above 2019.

Statewide, city diversions totaled $34,249,956.50, up about $500,000 from the previous month, though down about $20,000 from March 2019 — not a significant drop. The state’s year-to-date total is $335,021,826.65, up $3.5 million from the corresponding date one year prior.

Cleveland and McComb are the two municipalities in Mississippi closest in residential population to that of the Home Seekers Paradise — slightly less and slightly more, respectively. March receipts for Cleveland were $307,510.31, up $14,500 from February. The city’s year-to-date total was $2.94 million, up almost $1.5 million from 2019.

McComb’s March receipts were $430,036.99, down a mere $6.90 from February. The year-to-date total was $4.14 million, down $56,000 from 2019’s number.

Across the Magnolia State, 33 cities have larger populations than Brookhaven. Of these, 12 brought in lower tax receipts than Brookhaven for March. These included Canton, Clarksdale, Clinton, Gautier, Hernando, Long Beach, Moss Point, Natchez and Ocean Springs.

The capital city of Jackson, with the state’s largest population, received $2.113 million in tax receipts for March, up $500,000 from February. The municipality’s year-to-date of $20.5 million was down, however, from 2019’s $20.84 million.

Five other cities brought in sales tax receipts of more than $1 million for January — Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Southaven and Tupelo.

Forty towns or cities brought in tax receipts of less than $1,000 for March, including Big Creek, Chunky, Eden and Falcon, which took in $72.53, down from $132.54 the previous year.

The town of Satartia, with a population of nine, brought in $76.57, down from March 2019’s $106.95. The town’s year-to-date of $868.22 is only 41 percent of its 2019 marker of $2,116.84.

The town of Walthall received $0 for March. March 2019’s total was $2,792.36. It’s year-to-date total remains unchanged at $26,607.20, whereas the 2019 year-to-date marker was $31,210.65.

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, sales tax income (“diversion”) is paid by the DMDOR to cities. This report is based on the month the tax is collected at the MDOR (Month 2).