Sales tax numbers recently released by the Mississippi Department of Revenue show the City of Batesville has received almost $3 million in state sales tax diversion checks and $740,000 from the special tourism levy through the first five months of the current fiscal year.

Batesville’s diversion check for January was $430,893, about $11,000 more than the 2019 check. The amount from the tourism and economic development tax was $107,421, about $7,000 more than last year’s.

The latest report is based on the month the tax was received in Jackson, and reflects the amount of tax collected in Batesville during December 2019.

In Mississippi, retailers collect regular sales tax (and special taxes where allowed) each month. They send a report and the money collected to the Department of Revenue the next month, and the third month the Revenue Dept. sends each municipality a share of the amount collected.

Batesville’s total for the fiscal year from September through January is the 30th highest among the state’s 308 cities and towns that collect tax for the Dept. of Revenue and receive participation checks back for local coffers.

Baesville also collects an additional three percent economic development tax that is applied to purchases of goods and services most associated with travel, including restaurants and hotels. Batesville’s tourism tax, approved by the state legislature, has been dedicated in the past 10 years for retirement of debt associated with the Batesville Civic Center.

In North Mississippi, Tupelo’s share of December collections was $2.1 million, Oxford received $947,789, Clarksdale got $219,963, Grenada got $416,659, Senatobia got $198,941 (down almost $10,000 from 2019), Southaven received $1.5 million, Hernando got $475,779, and Tunica got $29,385.

In Panola County, Sardis received $25,636, down about $8,000 from a year ago. Sardis has received $182,356 for the fiscal year, some $14,000 less than the same point of the 2019 fiscal year.

Courtland received $1,146 for its January diversion, Como got $19,606, Pope got $5,267 and Crenshaw received $5,731.

Jackson, with over $16 million, Hattiesburg with more than $13.5 million, and Gulfport at $13 million have received the most diverted sales tax funds so far this fiscal year.