Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce officials hope astrong month of sales tax returns for December is a signal ofbetter things to come.

Brookhaven’s share of sales tax collections for December was$344,392.38, an increase of approximately $12,000 over December2003’s $332,756.87, according to the state Tax Commission. Thetotal for the last month of 2004, which represented sales inNovember, kept the city at number 21 in statewide rankings.

“I enthusiastically believe the increase is attributable to astrong local retail climate,” said Cliff Brumfield, the chamber’sexecutive vice president.

Brumfield cited a number of recent ribbon-cuttings and otherbusiness activities as evidence of improvement. He also mentionedmedia attention regarding the nation’s economic condition.

“It puts great light on a recovering national and localeconomy,” Brumfield said.

Brumfield specifically mentioned statewide publicity aboutautomobile dealers seeing about a 9 percent increase in 2004 over2003. He said the picture in Brookhaven was similar.

“Some local dealers expressed that those numbers were similar towhat they had experienced,” Brumfield said.

In year-to-date collections, however, Brookhaven remained alittle behind last year’s pace. For the current fiscal year, whichstarted July 1, the city had received $2,016,359.94 compared to$2,035.180.00 at the same point last year.

In other nearby areas, McComb collected $392,249.36 as its shareof December sales tax. McComb’s December 2004 total, which placedthe city 19th in statewide rankings, represented an increase ofalmost $20,000 over the December 2003 total of $372,398.63.

In year-to-date collections, McComb’s 2004 pace stayed ahead ofits 2003 total. The margin was $2,281,330.59 this year and$2,223,729.56 last year.

In Lawrence County, Monticello’s December total slippedslightly, with $31,108.28 this year compared to $32,551.18 lastyear. Year-to-date collections remained close, with $196,490.62 in2004 and $201,717.28 last year.

In Franklin County, Meadville merchants took in $8,135.86 forthe town’s share of December 2004 sales tax, which was up from lastDecember 2003’s $7,553.07. In year-to-date totals, Meadville hadtaken in $49,627.74 in 2004, a small drop from 2003’s$50,482.83.

Also in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up $8,186.81 inDecember for the town, a slight decrease from December 2003’s$8,296.95. For the year to date, the town had $52,265.39 this yearand $48,047.89 at the same point in 2003.

Wesson businesses’ December sales tax collections soared to$10,882.82, compared to the $8,867.74 received last December. Inyear to date collections, the town had $65,556.99 for 2004 and$63,021.63 for 2003.