The March report of St. Landry Parish sales tax revenue shows growth with total parish collections of $18,553,398 for the first three months of the year. It was a 7.3% gain over the same period in 2019.
But the March report mostly reflects sales in February and that’s before the coronavirus shutdown.
The St. Landry Parish School Board Sales Tax Division released the March sales tax report on Friday.
The parish sales and use tax total includes collections for the parish government, School Board, solid waste, law enforcement, special tax districts and municipalities.
There are 18 parish entities collecting sales taxes in St. Landry Parish.
In Eunice, year-to-date sales tax collections were $1,519,780, up 8.5% over the same period in 2019.
In Opelousas, year-to-date sales tax collections were $2,511,466, up 2.2% over the same period in 2019.
St. Landry Parish Road District 1 year-to-date tax collections through March were $1,859,338, up 16.5% over the same period in 2019. The road district collects a 2% sales tax in unincorporated areas of the parish to fund the Smooth Ride Home Program that paves parish roads.
In March, Eunice sales tax revenue totaled $456,393, up $35,201 or 8.4% over the March 2019 revenues.
Opelousas revenues in March were $729,777, up $5,125 or 0.7% over March 2019 revenues.
Road District 1 March revenue was $476,590, up $35,774 or 8.1% over March 2019 revenue.
Total sales tax revenue in St. Landry Parish was $5,181,53, up $93,134 or 1.8% over March 2019 collections.
In March to February comparisons, Eunice revenues were up $22,246 or 5%; Opelousas revenues were up $41,209 or 6%; Road District 1 revenues were up $48,733 or 9.3%; and parish total revenue was up $43,408, or 0.8%.
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.
The numbers reported for March collections primarily reflect sales in February.