Both Starkville and Columbus saw declines in sales tax collections this month, with a 0.26% drop in Starkville and a 8.94% decrease in Columbus compared to December collections. Even so, both cities’ sales tax collections are up compared to this time last year.
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, January reported collections reflect sales from November.
Columbus
Columbus collected $983,565 from general sales taxes this month, down from last month’s collections of $1,080,148.33. This marks a 1.81% increase from January 2025 collections of $966,044.90.
Four months into its fiscal year, the city has collected $4,019,756.50, marking a 4.96% increase from this time last year ($3,829,765.28). At its current pace, the city is on track to exceed its $12 million projected budget by about $59,200.
The city’s restaurant and lounge tax dropped 1.39% with $221,492 collected this month compared to December’s collection of $224,626.26. This marks a 7.97% increase from January 2025 collections of $205,132.71
Year-to-date, the restaurant sales tax collections are up 5.79% with $891,927.23 collected so far this fiscal year, compared to this time last year ($843,102.73).
The city’s hotel/motel tax shot up 112.5% with $73,670 collected this month, compared to December’s collection of $34,667.23. This also marks a 70.46% increase from January 2025 ($43,218.09).
Year-to-date, the city’s hotel and motel tax has brought in $184,522.17, up 6.02% from this time last year ($173,946.54).
Starkville
Starkville collected $848,270 this month, down from December’s collections of $850,522. This marks a 1.38% increase from January 2025 collections of $836,720.
Year-to-date, the city has collected $3,559,498 in sales taxes, a 4.47% increase from this time last year ($3,406,945). At its current pace, the city is on track to exceed its $10.3 million projected budget by more than $378,000.
Starkville saw a slight 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 $287,769 this month, a 0.74% decrease from last month’s collections of $289,930. This marks a 7.16% increase from January 2025 collections of $268,521.
Year-to-date, Starkville has collected $1,177,368 in restaurant sales tax revenue, marking a 7.35% increase from this time last year ($1,096,714).
Starkville’s tourism tax brought in $165,467 this month, down 0.6% from last month’s collection of $166,481. This marks a 9.13% increase from January 2025 collections of $151,613.
Year-to-date, the city has collected $676,908 from tourism tax revenue, marking a 7.47% increase from this time last year ($629,851).
West Point
West Point collected $249,897.59 this month, down 9.74% from December’s collection of $276,877.31. This marks a 13.61% decrease from this time last year ($289,281.97).
West Point’s budget cycle began July 1.
The city has collected $1,662,872.33 in sales taxes so far this fiscal year, down 7.75% from this time last year ($1,802,699.12). At its current pace, the city is on track to miss its $2.9 million projected budget by about $49,361.
The city’s tourism tax brought in $32,409.00 this month, a 12.04% drop from last month’s collections of $36,846. This is a 13% increase from January 2025 ($37,253.12).
Year-to-date, the city has collected $243,030.44 from its tourism tax, marking a 3.32% increase from this time last year ($235,200.42).
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
