Brookhaven finished the fiscal year in sales tax collections nearly $100,000 ahead of the previous year.

Halfway through Fiscal Year 2022, which ended June 30, sales tax diversions paid to cities and municipalities was $265.2 million — nearly $24 million more than the same time one year earlier.

At that six-month mark in December, Brookhaven had received $3,226,491.04, up more than $15,000 from the same time in 2021. Sales tax receipts at that time were $3.21 million.

In the months since, Brookhaven stayed ahead of the previous year’s cumulative totals, while sometimes dropping behind on a monthly comparison. Three of the months — February, April and May — receipts were down compared to the same months in 2021. But the final year-to-date for FY2022 was $6.635 million for Brookhaven, compared to $6.532 million at the close of FY2021.

Monthly 2022 totals were as follows, compared to the same month in the previous year:

• January — $603,601.53 ($568,950.33)

• February — $479,388.68 ($489,762.54)

• March — $526,426.03 ($443,802.50)

• April — $609,308.71 ($622,914.67)

• May — $591,220.25 ($621,529.89)

• June — $598,880.33 ($573,993.47)

Brookhaven is the 35th most populous city in the state, with 12,045 residents. Nevertheless, the city brought in more sales tax for June than 14 more densely populated cities. Bay St. Louis, Clarksdale, Clinton, Gautier, Greenville, Greenwood, Grenada, Hernando, Long Beach, McComb, Moss Point, Natchez, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula each had fewer dollars for the month.

Four cities had sales tax receipts of more than $2 million each in June — Gulfport, $2.5 million; Hattiesburg, $2.3 million; Jackson, $2.6 million; and Tupelo, $2.1 million.

Sales tax data is provided by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Sales tax has a three-month cycle. In Month 1, tax is collected by the retailer. In Month 2, tax is reported and paid to MDOR by the retailer. In Month 3, sales tax  income is paid by MDOR to cities. The report is based upon Month 2. All other data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.