Columbus and Starkville’s sales tax collections fell slightly compared to February 2025, though both cities saw an increase in month-to-month collections, with an 8.52% increase in Columbus and a 4.99% increase in Starkville compared to January.

Sales tax diversions run on a three-month window. Taxes are collected by retailers in the first month, sent to Mississippi Department of Revenue the next and then disbursed to cities and counties the third. Therefore, February reported collections reflect sales from December.

Columbus

Columbus collected $1,067,459 from general sales taxes this month, up 8.52% from last month’s collections of $983,565. However, this marks a 1.27% decrease from February 2025 collections of $1,081,254.

Year-to-date, the city has collected $5,087,215.50 in sales tax revenue, marking a 3.58% increase from this time last year ($4,911,020.05). At its current pace, the city is on track to exceed its $12 million projected budget by about $209,317.20.

The city’s restaurant and lounge tax jumped 51.69% with $335,984 collected this month compared to January’s collection of $221,492.00. This marks a 61.2% increase from February 2025 collections of $208,421.

Year-to-date, restaurant sales tax collections are up 16.77% with $1,227,911.23 collected so far this fiscal year, compared to this time last year ($1,051,523.57).

The city’s hotel/motel tax fell 63.27% with $27,058.90 collected this month compared to January’s collection of $73,670. This marks only a 1.24% decrease from February 2025 collections of $27,400.94.

Year-to-date, the city’s hotel/motel tax has brought in $211,581.07, up 5.08% from this time last year ($201,347.48)

Starkville

Starkville collected $890,612 this month, up 4.99% from January’s collections of $848,270. This marks a 0.93% decrease from February 2025 collections of $898,996.

Year-to-date, the city has collected about $4,450,109 in sales taxes, marking a 3.34% increase from this time last year ($4,305,941). At its current pace, the city is on track to exceed its $10.3 million projected budget by more than $380,000.

Starkville saw a decrease in month-to-month collections of both its restaurant sales tax diversions, which assist in funding for economic development and tourism, as well as its tourism sales tax, which funds the parks.

The city’s restaurant sales tax brought in $235,357 this month, down 18.21% from last month’s collections of $287,769. This marks a 1.23% decrease from February 2025 collections of $238,300.

Year-to-date, Starkville has collected $1,412,725 in restaurant sales tax revenue, marking a 5.82% increase from this time last year ($1,335,014).

Starkville’s tourism tax brought in $130,543 this month, a 21.1% decrease from last month’s collections of $165,467. This marks a 1.73% decrease from February 2025 collections of $132,852.

So far this fiscal year, the city has collected $807,451 from tourism tax revenue, marking a 5.86% increase from this time last year ($762,703).

West Point

West Point collected $273,171.25 in general sales tax revenue this month, up 9.31% from last month’s collections of $249,897.59. This marks a 3.73% increase from February 2025 collections of $263,334.76.

West Point’s budget cycle began July 1.

The city has collected $2,042,791.56 in sales taxes so far this fiscal year, down 1.13% from this time last year ($2,066,033.88). At its current pace, the city is on track to exceed its $2.9 million projected budget by about $164,187.

The city’s tourism tax brought in $28,952.00 this month, a 10.66% drop from last month’s collection of $32,409.00. This marks a 9.75% increase from February 2025 ($26,378.38).

Year-to-date, the city has collected $271,982.44 from its tourism tax, marking a 3.97% increase from this time last year ($261,578.80).