Roughly $15.3 million in sales taxes were collected across East Baton Rouge Parish in October, according to the latest monthly report released today by the city-parish Finance Department. That’s a 0.4% increase over approximate collections of slightly more than $15.2 million during October last year.
Continuing a trend seen thus far this year, collections were much stronger inside the city limits of Baton Rouge than they were outside. Collections inside Baton Rouge were up 3.7% to $8.8 million, while collections outside declined 3.7% to $6.5 million. Collections inside the city limits have been higher every month this year, compared to the same month last year. The same can only be said for four of the 10 months so far this year outside the city limits.
Year-to-date, total collections across East Baton Rouge Parish were at $152.4 million through October, a 2.6% increase over collections of $148.5 million through the first 10 months of last year. Inside the city limits, year-to-date collections are up 6%, while they’re off 1.4% outside the city limits.
The monthly sales tax collections reports include both general sales taxes and vehicle taxes, which are typically more volatile and a less reliable indication of how the local economy is faring. One interesting note from the October report: vehicle tax collections posted a decline, though slight, for just the second month this year. Collections on vehicle sales were off 0.5% in October, down to $1.33 million from $1.34 million last October. The last time those collections were down was in March, when a 3.5% decline was recorded.
See the complete sales tax report.
—Steve Sanoski
