With an almost $45,000 increase over the same month last year,Brookhaven kicked off the new fiscal year with a strong start,according to state Tax Commission totals for July.

Brookhaven’s share of July sales tax, which representscollections made in June, was $365,463.02. That was a “prettystrong increase” from the $320,579.31 taken in for July 2004, saidCliff Brumfield, executive vice president of the Chamber ofCommerce.

“We’re coming out of the gates with a bang,” Brumfield said.

The July total placed Brookhaven 22nd in the state.

Brumfield credited new business locations and a “seeminglyendless” number of ribbon cuttings for boosting local collections.He also touted continued strong sales at local automobiledealerships.

“It’s no surprise our numbers continue to grow,” he said.”However, a $45,000 one-month increase is outstanding.”

Almost all the cities in the top 25 and many around the stateposted collection increases over the same period in 2004. However,Brumfield said few eclipsed the 14 percent monthly increaseBrookhaven experienced.

Because July was the start of the fiscal year, year-to-datecollections for 2005 are the same as monthly totals. Year-to-datetotals will grow next month as a second month of collections isfactored in.

Brumfield said shoppers can have a direct impact on good saletax collections in the future by continuing to shop at home.