Both Columbus and Starkville are outpacing last year’s sales tax revenues in the second month of Fiscal Year 2026, with 1.66% growth in Columbus and 9.45% growth in Starkville compared to November 2024.

Month-to-month sales tax collections rose 1.28% in Starkville compared to October, while Columbus and West Point collections fell 2.71% and 10.81%, respectively.

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, November reported collections reflect sales from September.

Starkville

Starkville collected $936,312 this month, up 1.28% from October’s collections of $924,394. This marks an 11.85% increase from November 2024 collections of $837,111.

Year-to-date, the city has collected $1,860,706 in sales taxes, a 9.45% increase from this time last year ($1,699,964).

Starkville saw an increase 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 Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as parks.

The city’s restaurant sales tax brought in $319,600 this month, a 14.11% increase from last month’s collections of $280,068. This marks a 14.52% increase from November 2024 collections of $279,074.

Year-to-date, Starkville has collected $599,668 in restaurant sales tax revenue, marking a 7.68% increase from this time last year ($556,868).

Starkville’s tourism tax brought in $184,605 this month, a 15.12% increase from last month’s collection of $160,354. This marks a 14.11% increase from November 2024 collections of $161,774.

Year-to-date, the city has collected $344,960 from tourism tax revenue, marking a 7.55% increase from this time last year ($320,729).

Columbus

Columbus collected $964,557.42 from general sales taxes this month, down 2.71% from last month’s collections of $991,485.75. This marks a 1.1% increase from November 2024 collections of $953,975.03.

So far this fiscal year, the city has collected $1,956,043.17, marking a 1.66% increase from this time last year ($1,923,942.65).

The city’s restaurant and lounge tax dropped 1.47%, with $221,247.71 collected this month compared to October’s collection of $224,561.26. This marks a 7.9% jump from November 2024 collections of $205,032.62.

Year-to-date, restaurant sales tax collections are up 4.03% with $445,808.97 collected so far this fiscal year, compared to this time last year ($428,510.82).

The city’s hotel/motel tax brought in $40,907.66 this month, up 15.96% from last month’s collection of $35,277.28. This is a 13.77% decrease from this time last year ($47,444.24).

Year-to-date, the city has collected $76,184.94 in motel tax revenue, down 13.07% from this time last year ($87,648).

West Point

West Point collected $240,360.88 in sales tax revenue this month, down 10.81% from last month’s collection of $269,511.98. This marks a 1.53% decrease from November 2024 ($244,109.41).

West Point’s budget cycle began July 1.

The city has collected $1,136,097.43 in sales taxes so far this fiscal year, down 9.27% from this time last year ($1,252,176.41).

The city’s tourism tax brought in $33,998 this month, a 1.97% increase from October collections of $33,340. This is a 5.17% increase from November 2024 ($32,323.99).

Year-to-date, the city has collected $173,775.44 from its tourism tax, marking a 7.89% increase from this time last year ($161,062.57).