By Rupert Howell
September retail sales increased in some areas of Panola County. Approximately $39 million in taxable purchases brought in about $430,465 as reimbursement.

Municipalities are reimbursed approximately 18.5 percent of total sales taxes collected within corporate limits to help fund city government services such as fire and police.

The city of Batesville received $316,313 as its share for September collections, a two percent increase over September 2012. Year-to-date figures tallied since the state’s fiscal year began in July show a four percent increase in taxes returned.

Other Panola municipalities received as follows, with the amount and percentage of change: Como, $14,922, +2; Courtland, $1,250, + 14; Crenshaw, $4,378, -24; Crowder, $1,556, -19; Pope, $2,474, -41 and Sardis, $24,262 +1.

The City of Sardis also received  $8,155 in October in tourism taxes, an increase of six percent over October 2012.

A similar tax in Batesville brought in $90,587, an increase of nine percent over October last year.
Other nearby municipalities received as their share of sales tax collected in September  the following amounts with percentages  of change as follow: Charleston, $25,948, -9; Clarksdale, $206,851, -1; Grenada, $314,705, -2; Lambert, $3,610, +6; Marks, $19,066, -3; Oakland, $6,095, +2; Oxford, $619,211, unchanged; Pontotoc, $172,077, -3; Senatobia, $161,608, +10; Sledge, $1,983, +8; Taylor, $2,231, +16; and Water Valley, $37,978, -5.