Sales Tax Collections Down 9% Overall
Retail sales for LaSalle Parish dropped during the third quarter (July, August & September) as noted by the release of the Third Quarter Sales Tax Collection Figures last week by John Betts, LaSalle Parish’s Sales Tax Collector.
After a robust second quarter that saw collections increase over the first quarter by 23%, the third quarter showed the economy has slowed somewhat decreasing by an average of 9%.
Economists have long since predicted a slowing of sales due to high inflation and higher prices on everything including goods and services and that slowing was reflected in the third quarter figures.
LaSalle Parish continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 2.9%, however, according to figures, LaSalle’s residents are showing signs of guarding their money a little more carefully in the uncertain economic climate.
Every taxing body in the parish saw a decrease in sales tax collections during the third quarter, with the largest decrease being seen in the three one-cent sales taxes of the LaSalle Parish School Board (LPSB).
The LPSB’s 2008 15-year one-cent sales tax for school building construction and maintenance that expired on June 30, 2023, saw the most significant decrease as the final collections from that tax were reported.
In July, that sales tax brought in $227,682.94 (collected for June), then in August it only collected $51,568.93 and in September that collection was reduced to only $2,700.69. That attributed to a decrease of 70% from the second to third quarter.
The school system’s remaining two one-cent sales taxes had a decrease in collections of 12% from the second quarter to the third quarter.
The first tax decreased from $948,210.62 in the second quarter to $832,030.12 in the third quarter. The second tax decreased from $949,411.12 in the second quarter to $834,351.22 in the third quarter.
LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office
The LPSO’s half-cent Law Enforcement sales tax also saw collections decrease by 12% from the second to the third quarter. During the second quarter, the sheriff’s office collected $474,705.25 and in the third quarter it only collected $417,174.87.
LaSalle Parish Police Jury
The LaSalle Parish Police Jury’s half-cent Garbage sales tax also saw collections decrease by 12% from the second to the third quarter. During the second quarter, the Jury collected $474,690.64 and in the third quarter they only collected $417,174.99.
Town of Tullos
The Town of Tullos’ one and-a-half cent sales tax saw a decrease of 7% from the second quarter to the third quarter. During the second quarter, the town collected $34,451.12 and in the third quarter they only collected $31,124.23.
Town of Olla
The Town of Olla’s one cent sales tax saw a decrease of 5% from the second quarter to the third quarter. During the second quarter, the town collected $108,401.03 and in the third quarter they only collected $102,982.13.
Town of Jena
The Town of Jena’s one cent sales tax had the smallest decrease of collections from the previous quarter at just 2.5%.
During the second quarter, the town collected $392,584.38 while in the third quarter they collected $382,660.78.
