Harlan Kirgan
Sales tax collections in St. Landry Parish were up in June in several comparisons despite the impact of the coronavirus.
Total sales tax collections in the parish were up 5.3% over the same period in 2019. Collections totaled $37,292,727 from January to June, up $1,888,610 over the same period in 2019.
The June figures primarily reflect sales in May.
The parish sales and use tax total includes collections for the parish government, School Board, solid waste, law enforcement, special tax districts and municipalities.
The total doesn’t include state sales taxes.
There are 18 parish entities collecting sales taxes in St. Landry Parish.
The sales tax collection numbers are likely reflecting the enormous amount of federal assistant meant to soften the business slowdowns intended to stem the spread of the virus. A report last week included that St. Landry Parish organizations receiving at least $150,000 in the federal Payroll Protection Program were loaned from $31 million to $77 million. About $7.3 billion flowed to more than 79,800 organizations in the state. There were 98 listed recipients in St. Landry Parish, but the number does not include entities receiving less than $150,000.
The parish’s June total of $6,588,567 was a 7.5% increase over the June 2019 collections. The June collections were a 17% increase or $958,389 over May collections.
Eunice’s year-to-date collections were $3,177,732, up 17% from the six-month total in 2019 of $2,710,448. Compared to June 2019, the city’s sales tax collections jumped 41% or $179,958 to $616,498. The June total was up 22.7% from May’s collections of $502,295.
In Opelousas, year-to-date collections were $5,131,447, up 3.8% or $189,712 from the same period in 2019. June collections were $910,505, up 15% from June 2019 collections and up 16% from May collections.
In Road District 1, which collects a 2% sales tax in unincorporated St. Landry Parish to fund the Smooth Ride Home Program, year-to-date collections were $3,554,970, up 6.5% or $217,053 over the same period in 2019. June collections of $613,378 were up 3.5% over June 2019 collection and up 20.&% over May collections.
Last week, Bill Rodier, St. Landry Economic Development executive director, said big box retailers such as Walmart and Lowe’s have experienced strong sales since the March restrictions, but smaller retailers experienced sharp declines.
The local sales tax rates in Eunice are 2.45% city and 3.55% parish.
Local sales tax rates in unincorporated St. Landry Parish are 5.55% parish tax rates that includes the 2% Smooth Ride Home Program tax.
The sales tax numbers include a use tax, which is paid on items used, stored or consumed. The sales tax is collected on a transaction.