EBR sales tax collections up 7.1% in November

At $14.5 million, sales taxes collected on retail goods and vehicle sales in East Baton Rouge Parish rose 7.1% in November compared to the same month in 2011, according to a report from the city-parish Finance Department today. Excluding taxes on vehicle sales—which are considered a less reliable measure of economic conditions—collections in the city and parish were at $13.5 million in November, up about $830,000, or 6.6%, compared to November 2011. Collections were up inside and outside the city limits on the month. In Baton Rouge alone, sales and vehicle tax collections totaled $7.3 million, up 4.6%. Outside the city limits, combined collections were $7.2 million, a nearly 10% increase. With one month left to report for 2012, combined collections in the city and parish stand at $156.6 million through November. That’s about $10.5 million more than was collected through November in 2011, or an increase of just over 7%. You can check out the entire monthly and year-to-date sales tax collection figures for the city and parish here.