A more than 9% increase in sales tax collections inside the city limits of Baton Rouge more than offset a flat month for collections outside the city limits in October, thus leaving the month’s total tally 4.8% ahead of collections in October a year ago.
According to the latest monthly collections report from the city-parish Finance Department, released today, about $8.4 million was collected in the city during the month, an increase of 9.3%. Outside the city limits, collections totaled $6.8 million, which marked a scant 0.2% decline from October last year.
Combined collections in October were approximately $15.2 million, which is about $700,000 more than was collected last year.
Ten months into 2014, year-to-date sales tax collections in the city and parish stood at $148.5 million, a 3.3% increase over year-to-date collections of $143.7 million through October last year.
Sales taxes collected on auto sales have been particularly strong in recent months, and October was no exception. Inside the city limits, collections on auto sales were up 6.2% in October, while outside the city limits they were up 19%. Year-to-date, auto sales tax collections are up 4% in Baton Rouge and 6.3% outside the city limits. See the complete sales tax report. —Steve SanoskiÂ
