Columbus sales tax collections got a $32,580 head start over the previous fiscal year.
Returns from the Mississippi Department of Revenue totaled $745,150 this month, which is the first of Fiscal Year 2015. This month’s check to the city reflects 18.5 percent of what city retailers collected in August.
Last October, the city received $712,570. It marks the highest October return in city record. The previous best October was in Fiscal Year 2011 when the city received nearly $733,700.
West Point also saw a sizable improvement this month from the previous October. Its diversion was $206,844, a $23,779 increase from October 2013. The city measures its yearly returns beginning in July and ending the following June, so it has received $810,459 through four months.
Starkville sales tax returns were down nearly $20,000 from the previous October. It received a check from MDR for $566,347 this month. Last October, it was paid $585,942. It has received $3,917,644 so far in 2014. For the 2014 fiscal year, which began last October and ended at the end of last month, the city received $5,953,849. That’s a $236,235 improvement from the prior fiscal year.
Back in Columbus, this month’s restaurant and motel diversions also improved from last October. Two percent restaurant returns totaled $127,027, which is nearly $10,000 from October 2013’s check. That money goes to the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Motel tax returns were $25,406, more than $5,000 improved from the previous October.
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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