By Rupert Howell

Recent sales tax figures for April purchases indicate continued decline in Batesville’s retail market with an eight percent decrease over the same period last year and a five percent decrease during the state’s fiscal year.

Although sales tax figures were up, they were higher or as high as figures representing February and January sales and less than March figures.

Batesville received as its share of the seven percent sales tax $286,438, approximately 18 percent collected, for the city’s coffers. The city has received $3,255,151 during the fiscal year that began last July 1 compared to $3,441,057 during the same time frame last year.

The city’s eight percent decrease compares unfavorably with the statewide five percent decrease for the month. The state’s year-to-date sales tax collections are three percent below the previous year.

The city’s tourism tax, a three percent tax of food and lodging, was down 11 percent for the month of May but is still one percent above last year’s totals. According to the State Tax Commission, $77,002 was collected in May with $836,411 collected since July of last year.

Other Panola municipalities received sales tax money as their share for April and year-to-date total in the amount of and percentage of increase or decrease as: Como, $16,271, -4, $178,997,-10; Courtland, $1,279, -25, $15,643,-20; Crenshaw, $3,677, +5, $39,656, +1; Crowder, $1,224, -37, $15,589, -8; Pope, $2,236, -9, $24,076, 0 and Sardis, $25,459, -13, $294,496, +9.

Other municipalities received amounts for the share of sales tax paid by consumers in April and the percentage of increase or decrease as follows: Charleston, $27,749, -2;  Clarksdale, $229,908, +1; Grenada, $300,049, -3; Lambert, $2,768, -3; Marks, $19,815, -4; Oakland, $4,216, +24; Oxford, $489,302, -6; Senatobia, $147,608, -7 and Water Valley, $40,009, -2.