Natchitoches reports sales tax gains in April, year‑to‑date collections up; some districts show mixed results

NATCHITOCHES, La. — At the May 27 meeting, finance staff presented the city’s fiscal 2024–25 revenue report, saying April sales tax grew 10.3% and year‑to‑date collections have increased compared with the previous year.

“...for the particular month of April, which is what we are reporting on, we were up 10.3%,” Miss Brown Smith, a finance staff member, told the council. She said April’s total collections were about $1,300,000 compared with roughly $1,200,000 the same month the prior year and that year‑to‑date sales tax collections stood at $13.2 million versus $12.6 million a year earlier.

Brown Smith also reported the city’s fiscal summary showed the overall year‑to‑date position in the red at about $4,900,000 as displayed on the presentation. She described the presentation as covering fiscal and calendar comparisons and noted several local tax‑district variances.

Highlights from the presentation included a 22.44% increase in one TIF tax category and a 20% increase in vehicle sales tax receipts year‑to‑date. City staff gave figures for economic development districts: EDDA collections of about $2,020,215 year‑to‑date; Economic Development district C up about $24,000 (16%); district D down about $5,000 (roughly 20% reported by staff, who flagged the small absolute dollar amount); district E up about $3,000 (8%); and district F up about $1,000 (6%). TIF District C was reported up about 9.8%, roughly $8,000.

Council members asked whether the April increase could be attributed to auto‑sales allotments. “Well, some of it. Some of it. But...we've continued to see an uptick in our sales tax,” Brown Smith said, adding staff would not attribute the increase solely to vehicle sales.

No formal council action was taken on the financial report; it was presented for information. The meeting included encouragements for public participation in local events and reminders about the city’s notification app.