Combined sales tax collections inside and outside of Baton Rouge’s city limits were flat in March, though the latest report from the city-parish Finance Department indicates car sales were particularly strong during the month.
Excluding collections on vehicle taxes, the city and parish collected an estimated $15.1 million in sales taxes during the month—just $3,476 more than was collected in March last year. The total was boosted by an 11% increase in taxes on vehicle sales, up from $1.28 million in March 2015 to $1.4 million during the month this year. That left total collections in the city-parish at $16.5 million on the month, up 0.89% over collections of just under $16.4 million the year previous.
Overall collections were slightly stronger inside the city limits in March, up 0.55% to $8.5 million. Outside of the city limits, collections dipped 0.66% to approximately $6.6 million on the month.
Including vehicle sales, year to date sales tax collections in the city-parish are at $45.3 million through the first quarter of the year, up 0.66% over last year’s tally of $45 million through the first three months of the year. Collections inside the city limits are down 0.5%, while those outside the city limits are up 1.7%.
Taxes collected on vehicle sales inside and outside of Baton Rouge’s city limits are at $3.9 million through the first quarter, up 3%.
—Alexandria Burris
