Brookhaven posted a healthy increase in sales tax collectionsfor August, but Homeseeker’s Paradise remained a little off itsyearly pace, according to statistics from the state taxcommission.

At $341,225.56, the city’s share of sales tax was up about$15,000 over the August 2003 total of $326,710.04. That representedan approximately 5 percent August increase following a July totalthat was down more than $47,000 from the same period in 2003.

“That’s showing we’re starting to rebound from the loss lastmonth,” said Chandler Russ, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber ofCommerce executive vice-president. “It’s still down, but it’s stillearly in the year.”

August is only the second month of the state’s fiscal year thatbegins in July. For the fiscal year, Brookhaven had taken in$661,804.87 this year compared to $694,698.00 last year, about a 5percent decrease.

Brookhaven’s total last month placed it 21st among top sales taxcollectors.

Russ said the numbers represented “good solid growth in atypically slow month.” He expected continued improvement due to aninflux of evacuees from Hurricane Ivan in September.

“The following months should see us make up some of the groundlost earlier in the year,” Russ said.

He also credited the role new retailers like Walgreens andQuiznos, as well as strong existing retailers, will play in helpingthe city improve.

“I expect 4 to 5 percent growth for the year,” Russ said. “Ithink that’s where we’ll end up, even though we’re down about 5percent now.”

In other parts of southwest Mississippi, McComb collected$386,015.50 as its share of August sales tax. McComb’s August 2004total, which placed the city 19th in statewide rankings,represented an increase of approximately $14,000 from the August2003 total of $372,011.42.

In year to date collection, McComb’s 2004 pace trailed its 2003pace by a margin of $777,469.96 this year and $808,969.05 lastyear.

In Lawrence County, Monticello’s August total was slightlyahead, with $32,923.88 this year compared to $30,209.71 last year.Year to date collection were almost even, with $67,210 in 2004 and$67,133.32 last year.

In Franklin County, Meadville merchants took in $8,019.65 forthe town’s share of August 2004 sales tax. That was up severalhundred dollars from last August’s $7,708.18.

In year to date totals, Meadville had taken in $17,158.73 in2004, down a bit from 2003’s $17,990.76.

Also in Franklin County, Bude businesses rang up $9,548.94 inAugust for the town, a nice increase over August 2003’s $8,190.57.For the year to date, the town had $17,484.75 this year and$16,283.96 at the same point in 2003.

Wesson businesses’ August sales tax collections climbed to$10,254.16, up from the $9,353.23 received last August. In year todate collections, the town had $20,745.68 for 2004 and $22,294.06for 2003.