Despite the loss of six months of regular sales tax collections from one of the three LaSalle Parish School Board’s one-cent sales taxes, sales tax collections in LaSalle still saw an increase in 2023 over 2022.

Total sales tax collections from 2023 finished the year with a total of just over $14-million, according to the official collections report issued by Jon Betts, Sales Tax Collector for the parish recently.

Betts said that a total of $14,169,857.57 was collected in 2023 from the 7.5 cents in sales taxes the parish collects, compared to $13,618,794.84 collected in 2022.

The increase of $551,062.73 or 3.89% would have been higher, except the LPSB’s 2008 one-cent sales tax expired June 30 of last year, leaving that tax to only collect for half a year.

That particular tax collected $2,020,261.51 for 2023, down nearly a million dollars from its 2022 total. In 2022, the tax collected $2,978,633.54.

The school system’s other two one-cent sales taxes saw an increase of over 11% from 2022 to 2023.

The first had a total of $3,368,017.94 in 2023 compared to $2,985,603.54 in 2022; an increase of $382,414.40 or 11.35%.

The second had a total of $3,370,389.80 in 2023 compared to $2,978,633.54 in 2022; an increase of $391,756.26 or 11.62%.

Total sales tax collections for the School Board for 2023 was $8,758,669.25, compared to $8,942,870.62 in 2022. That resulted in a decrease of collections totaling $184,201.37, or 2.10%.

Town of Olla

The largest increase in sales tax collections in the parish from last year was the Town of Olla’s one-cent sales tax, which saw collections increase by $99,067.93, or 25.09%, over their 2022 collections.

During 2023, Olla brought in $394,774.42 while in 2022 they brought in $295,706.49.

Since January of 1996, Olla has collected a one-cent sales tax to offset expenses for their sewer department.

Town of Tullos

The second largest increase in sales tax collections in the parish from last year was the Town of Tullos’ 1-1/2 cent sales tax, which saw collections increase by $21,522.62, or 16.64%, over their 2022 collections.

During 2023, Tullos brought in $129,309.45 while in 2022 they brought in $107,786.83.

Revenue produced by this tax pays for a bond issue for their water system renovation work. Excess revenue is used for other town requirements. Town of Jena

The third largest increase in sales tax collections in the parish from last year was the Town of Jena’s one-cent sales tax, which saw collections increase by $222,189.01, or 14.65%, over their 2022 collections.

During 2023, Jena brought in $1,516,723.11 while in 2022 they brought in $1,294,6534.10.

The Town of Jena’s sales tax was originally approved to pay off debt on the Jena Wastewater Treatment Facility, with excess funds allocated to other utility projects. Since the water treatment debt has been repaid, those funds are now available for other utility projects in the town.

LaSalle Parish Police Jury

The fourth largest increase in sales tax collections in the parish from last year was the La-Salle Parish Police Jury’s half-cent sales tax. This tax had collections increase by $196,594.74, or 11.67%, over 2022 collections.

During 2023, the Jury’s half-cent generated $1,685,174.75 while in 2022 it brought in $1,488,580.01.

Revenue from this sales tax is used to provide door-to-door parish wide garbage pickup through Waste Connections.

Law Enforcement Tax

The final sales tax in the parish is the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office’s half-cent Law Enforcement Tax. This half-cent sales tax saw collections increase by $195,889.80, or 11.62%, over its 2022 collections.

During 2023, the tax generated collections of $1,685,206.59 while in 2022 it brought in $1,489,316.79.

The Sheriff’s Office uses these sales tax funds for salaries, equipment and other expenses.

Collections Increase Translates to Retail Sales Increase

While the totals only represent sales tax monies collected, the figures are used to give a picture of retail sales in the parish and can be used to approximate the increase or decrease in retail sales during a given time period.

Based upon this, financial experts determine that retail sales for the parish have increased at least by 3.89% from 2022 to 2023. This is good news for LaSalle and is indicative of a growing local economy despite the national economic landscape.

Economists also note that although sales tax collections are higher, so are other costs and expenses. While it may seem that these governing bodies are collecting higher amounts, when inflation and other costs are factored in, they may not be reciprocating as much as the public thinks.