Sales tax revenue for Covington County is down 3.53 percent, compared to the same period last year.
According to numbers provided by County Administrator Karen Sowell, the county collected $632,744 in May, the most up-to-date numbers available.
In 2016, the county collected $669,857 in May.
Year-to-date figures show that $5.12 million has been collected for 2016-2017, while $5.3 million was collected for the same year- to-date period in 2015-2016.
Even with the decline, the county numbers are still greater than the same period in 2013-2014, when the county collected $4.8 million.
County Commission Chairman Greg White said a couple of things come to his mind about the decline, though he hasn’t confirmed them.
“Sitel closed during this time, so the impact of sales tax generated by their payroll dropped off,” he said. “PowerSouth construction on their offices was nearing completion, so likely they were making less purchases to sales or use tax during recent months. (There is) no other explanation at this time.”
In Opp, sales taxes for year-to-date numbers are up 0.99 percent.
Year to date figures show Opp has collected $1.42 million year-to-date, while it collected $1.41 million this time last year.
May’s collections were down slightly at $176,066 compared to last year’s $178,966.
The city has been working on a sidewalk project, as well as the restoration of the L&N Depot and several other construction projects that could have contributed to the increase in YTD numbers.