Both Columbus and Starkville, now a quarter of the way through Fiscal Year 2026, are on pace to exceed their projected sales tax budgets.
The cities’ budget cycle began Oct. 1. Starkville is on pace to exceed its $10.3 million projected budget by more than $500,000, while Columbus is outpacing its $12 million projected budget by more than $100,000.
Month-to-month collections also rose by nearly 12% in Columbus and 15.19% in West Point, while Starkville collections dropped 9.16% compared to November.
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, December reported collections reflect sales from October.
Columbus
Columbus collected $1,080,148.33 from general sales taxes this month, an 11.98% jump from last month’s collections of $964,557.42. This marks a 14.93% increase from December 2024 collections of $939,777.73.
So far this fiscal year, the city has collected $3,036,191.50 in sales tax collections, marking a 6.02% increase from this time last year ($2,863,720.38). Three months into its fiscal year, Columbus is on pace to exceed its projected sales tax budget of $12 million by about $144,766.
The city’s restaurant and lounge tax increased by about 1.52% with $224,626.26 collected this month compared to November’s collection of $221,247.71. This marks a 7.24% increase from December 2024 collections of $209,459.20.
Year-to-date, restaurant sales tax collections are up 5.08% with $670,435.23 collected so far this fiscal year, compared to this time last year ($637,970.02).
The city’s hotel/motel tax brought in $34,667.23 this month, down 15.25% from last month’s collection of $40,907.66. This is a 19.52% drop from December 2024 collections of $43,080.12.
Year-to-date, the city has collected $110,852.17 in motel tax revenue, down 15.2% from this time last year ($130,728.45).
Starkville
Starkville collected $850,522 this month, down 9.16% from November’s collection of $936,312. This marks a 2.26% decrease from December 2024 collections of $870,261.
So far this fiscal year, the city has collected $2,711,227 in sales tax revenue, a 5.48% increase from this time last year ($2,570,225). Three months into the fiscal year, the city is on pace to exceed its projected sales tax budget of $10.3 million by about $544,908.
Starkville saw a drop in month-to-month collections of both its restaurant sales tax diversions, which assist in funding for economic development and tourism, and its tourism sales tax, which funds the Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as parks.
The city’s restaurant sales tax brought in $289,930 this month, a 9.28% drop from last month’s collections of $319,600. This marks a 6.85% increase from December 2024 collections of $271,324.
Year-to-date, Starkville has collected $889,598 in restaurant sales tax revenue, marking a 7.41% increase from this time last year ($828,192).
Starkville’s tourism tax brought in $166,481 this month, a 9.81% decrease from last month’s collection of $184,605. This marks a 5.69% increase from December 2024 collections of $157,509.
Year-to-date, the city has collected $511,441 from tourism tax revenue, marking a 6.94% increase from this time last year ($478,238).
West Point
West Point collected $276,877.31 in sales tax revenue this month, up 15.19% from last month’s collection of $240,360.88. This marks a 5.98% increase from December 2024 collections of $261,240.74.
West Point’s budget cycle began July 1.
Halfway into its fiscal year, the city has collected $1,412,974.74. This marks a 6.63% decrease from this time last year ($1,513,417.15). At its current pace, West Point is on track to fall shy of its $2.9 million projected sales tax budget by about $74,050.52.
The city’s tourism tax brought in $36,846.00 this month, an 8.37% increase from November collections of $33,998.00. This is an 8.37% increase from December 2024 ($36,884.73).
Year-to-date, the city has collected $210,621.44 from its tourism tax, marking a 6.40% increase from this time last year ($197,947.30).
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