September sales tax returns dropped Brookhaven out of thestate’s Top 20, but the city’s fiscal year 2003 pace remainedslightly ahead of its fiscal year 2002 level, according tostatistics from the state tax commission.

At $326,028.18 last month, Brookhaven’s total was down about$6,000 from its September 2001 total of $332,129.18. That totalplaced the city at number 22 in the state.

Gains by Oxford and Starkville, which had totals in the $350,000range, helped push Brookhaven down the list. Chandler Russ,Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce executivevice-president, indicated football season contributed to thecities’ success.

“External factors swelled their coffers to help them surpassus,” Russ said.

Russ said the September total was up about $5,000 from Augustand still a very good total for southwest Mississippi. And,Brookhaven remained just ahead of its pace compared to the samepoint last year.

Fiscal year 2003 began in July and year-to-date totals representthree months of collections. Through September, Brookhaven hadtaken in $967,356.60 in FY 03, compared to $966,944.10 at the samepoint in FY 02.

“We’ve had months we’ve gained and months we’ve lost,” Russsaid. “For the most part, it’s been flat to slightly positive.”

Russ reminded citizens to make every effort to shop locally.

“The sales tax collected goes back to the city coffers to helpkeep other taxes down,” Russ said. “They’re a sizable portion ofthe city’s operating budget.”

Russ said some new retail activity was not reflected in theSeptember totals. Also, some proposed retail growth and continuedsupport of Brookhaven businesses by local and area shoppers shouldresult in more positive numbers by year’s end.

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collections fellto $352,346.17 in September sales tax. The September 2002 total,which dropped the city to 20th in the state, represented a decreaseof about $20,000 from the September 2001 total of $372,805.59.

In year-to-date totals, McComb had $1,087,026.84 in fiscal year2003 and $1,063,760.66 in FY 2002.

Also in Pike County, Summit businesses gathered $17,774.68 inSeptember sales tax, a decrease from last September’s $21,913.57.For the year-to-date, the town’s 2002 total was $55,094.06, downsome from $62,692.98 at the same point in 2001.

In Lawrence County, Monticello merchants took in $34,327.04 forthe city’s share of September 2002 sales tax, an increase overSeptember 2001’s $31,128.21. The city’s FY 2003 year-to-date totalstayed ahead of its 2002 pace: $97,243.21 this year and $89,741.91last year.

Wesson businesses’ September sales tax collections were down to$8,801.10, compared to $9,961.24 last September. Its year-to-datetotal was a little behind its 2002 pace with $27,562.47 this yearand $29,900.60 last year.

To the west in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up$7,375.26 for the town, which was down compared to September 2001’s$8,973.10. For fiscal year 2003, its yearly total was $24,800.93and $25,865.08 in 2002.

Meadville merchants took in $8,011.68 in September 2002, whichwas up from September 2001 with $7,768.76. Yearly totals show thetown with $23,759.85 in FY 2003 collections and $23,114.21 in FY2002 collections.