By Rupert Howell

Most recent tax figures reveal that Batesville sales increased 13 percent in September 2010 over September 2009 with the city receiving $314,238 as its share of the seven cent sales tax.

Those same figures revealed the city surpassed the September 2007 figures, the year before the recent recession began. The amount the city received indicates a 10 percent increase in sales over the previous month of August 2010.

The fiscal year-to-date figure, beginning July 1, shows a solid increase which currently stands at six percent over last year’s share at $1,227,882.

The city receives approximately 18% of the seven cent state sales tax. That revenue partially funds city services such as fire and police.

Batesville also receives a three percent tax on restaurants and hotels, some of which is used to pay notes on Batesville Civic Center.

Representing October sales, Batesville received $80,731, an increase over October 2009 of nine percent. Since July, the city has received $339,147, also a nine percent increase over the same period last year.

Other Panola County municipalities received the following amounts and percentage of increase or decrease as follows: Como, $16,641, -17%; Courtland, $1225, -7; Crenshaw, $4,879, +52; Crowder, $1,538, unchanged; Pope, $3,469, +65; and Sardis, $27,687, +12.

Other nearby municipalities received the following amounts and percentage of increase and decrease over September 2009 sales: Charleston, $26,935, -2; Clarksdale, $215,155, +5; Grenada, $300,711, +5; Lambert, $2,835, +3; Marks, $20,698, +6; Oakland, $6,175, +56; Oxford, $524,941, +5; Senatobia, $148,162, +6; Sledge, $1,916, +17; Taylor, $2,189, +18 and Water Valley, $38,907, -3.

State figures showed a four percent increase for the month and two percent increase for year-to-date.