Columbus ended its sales tax collection year on a strong note.
The city reported that it received a check from t`he Mississippi Department of Revenue this month for $701,283.48, which is a $15,906.70 improvement from September 2013.
With that being the last check the city collects this fiscal year, the total amount received in 12 months was $8,758,532.62, a $146,423.66 increase over the $8,612,108.96 collected during the 2012-13 fiscal year.
It’s the third best showing for sales tax returns in Columbus in the last seven years. The city received $8,869,518.58 in 2007-08.
Restaurant and hotel tax collections also improved over last September. The 2 percent collection was $125,607, $2,236 more than was received 12 months ago. That money goes to the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Hotel returns totaled $23,519, a $2,628 increase over the previous September. That money goes into city coffers and is designated for upkeep of the Trotter Convention Center.
September’s check to the city reflects 18.5 percent of the city’s 7 percent sales tax collected and paid to MDR in July.
MDR reported that Starkville received a check for $461,861 this month, which is more than a $20,000 jump from last September. West Point’s return was $135,629. That city’s check for September 2013 was $170,336. That’s a decrease of $34,707.
Tourism tax reports for Starkville and West Point were not available at press time.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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