November saw Brookhaven post a healthy increase in sales taxcollections over the previous November, but the city dipped justoutside the state’s top 20 collectors because of some seasonalinfluences on other communities.

With November 2001 collections of $322,564.40, Brookhaven’stotal for the month was over $19,000 more than the November 2000total of $293,854.20. That represented a boost of about 10 percentin monthly comparisons, said Chandler Russ, executivevice-president of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber ofCommerce.

“That’s a significant increase,” Russ said. “And we’re about 3percent ahead for new year.”

In fiscal year to comparisons, which start in July, Brookhavenhad received $1,602,636.10 so far in fiscal year 2002 and$1,561,514.93 through the same point in fiscal year 2001. Russ saidthe city’s growth rate was a little ahead of the state’s, which wasaround 2 percent.

The November total placed Brookhaven at number 21 statewide.Russ said football factors in Oxford and Starkville, both of whichwere in the top 20, contributed to Brookhaven’s drop in theratings.

Still, Russ said a 10 percent increase in collections iswonderful and refreshing. He attributed the increase to strongretail offerings and great automobile incentives that promptedvehicle purchases.

Russ hoped the trend will continue.

“I think we’ll have strong December numbers,” Russ said.”Shopping seemed to be pretty brisk throughout.”

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collectionsclimbed to $338,534.58 in November sales tax. The November 2001total, which placed the city 18th in the state, represented anincrease of about $16,000 from the November 2000 total of$322,891.48.

In year-to-date totals, McComb had $1,756,090.89 in 2001 and$1,693,157.90 in 2000.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $18,590.70 inNovember sales tax, an increase from last November’s $16,542.30.For the years-to-date, the town’s 2001 total was $98,541.75, about$4,000 ahead of 2000’s $94,426.23.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $30,344.45 forthe city’s share of November 2001 sales tax, a modest increase overNovember 2000’s $29,875.97. The city’s 2001 year-to-date totalcontinued to be a little off its 2000 pace: $151,104.07 this yearand $153,701.32 last year.

Wesson businesses’ November sales tax collections were up alittle to $10,554.81, compared to $10,182.05 last November. Itsyear-to-date total remained slightly ahead of its 2000 pace with$50,037.33 this year and $49,283.26 last year.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$8,287.97 for the town, a good increase compared to November 2000’s$7,486.58. For 2001, its yearly total was $42,222.91 and $39,220.94in 2000.

Meadville merchants took in $8,076.17 in November 2001, adecrease from November 2000 with $9,915.19. Yearly totals show thetown with $40,127.10 in 2001 collections and $46,815.07 in 2000collections.