EBR sales tax collections drop in October

Sales tax collections in East Baton Rouge Parish were down for the sixth consecutive month in September. According to the city-parish Department of Finance, nearly $12.1 million in sales tax revenue was collected in September, down 3.3% from the nearly $12.5 million that came in during September 2008, a month that saw sales boosted by Hurricane Gustav rebuilding. Sales outside the incorporated areas of the parish were down slightly, from $5.32 million in September 2008 to $5.3 million in September. There was a 5.3% drop in sales tax collections inside the city limits, going from $7.1 million to nearly $6.8 million. Vehicle tax collections broke a string of declines from the previous year, although the comparison was easier since Gustav cut into September 2008 car and truck sales. There was just under $1 million collected in September, while vehicle tax revenues the year before were under $800,000. Through the first nine months of the year, city-parish sales tax collections are down 1.4%, from $114.2 million to $112.7 million.