Parish sales tax receipts show slowing economy

After barreling through the gates with a 13 percent growth in the first quarter of 2014, St. Mary Parish sales and use taxes for the second quarter faltered with only a 1.4 percent increase over last year’s second quarter.
The June tax report shows $3.63 million was collected from the parish’s 4 percent tax, which was down 2.6 percent from June 2013, according to figures released last week by the St. Mary Parish Sales and Use Tax Department.
There was about $3.73 million reported for June 2013, according to Jeff LaGrange, director of the department.
The growth for the second quarter was minimal over last year’s second quarter. Sales and use taxes totaled $11.34 million for April to June, up from $11.19 million for the same period in 2013.
On the strength of the first quarter growth, LaGrange said reported sales and use tax collections have grown through the first six months at the modest projection he had made for the parish to budget its expenditures.
“Business seems to have slowed a bit during the second quarter,” LaGrange said in an email. “However, (year-to-date), we have enjoyed almost 7 percent increase in revenue, which is right on the budgeted amount. Hopefully the third quarter will bounce back and continue to show slow, steady growth.”
The 4 percent hotel and motel tax collection continued a downward slide as it fell 15 percent from June 2013 to $56,432 in June.
There was a single small audit partial payment of $100 in June.
The Morgan City 0.3 percent road tax yielded $84,556 in June. Through the first half of the year the sales tax for Morgan City road repair collected $515,587.
The sales and use tax department retains 5 percent of collections to fund the office before distributions are made.
The following occupational license fees were collected in June:
—St. Mary Parish, $2,822.75.
—City of Morgan City, $762.
—Town of Berwick, $500.50.
—City of Patterson, $113.
—City of Franklin, $1,691.