Finance committee reports stronger sales-tax receipts, refers five budget and capital ordinances to full council

St. Tammany Parish Finance Committee members on Thursday reviewed monthly finance reports showing higher-than-expected sales-tax receipts and considered several budget and capital amendments before voting to refer five ordinances to the full parish council.

Finance presenter Annie said sales tax District 3 collections for July were “approximately $6,700,000,” an increase of about 8% from July of last year, and that the parish is projecting roughly $79 million in remittances from Sales Tax District 3 for the year. She later clarified the parish’s broader estimate: the total tax for Sales Tax District 3 is about $95.4 million, the municipalities’ share about $15 million, and the remittance to parish government roughly $80 million for the year.

Those receipts, Annie said, help offset shortfalls and timing differences in other revenue lines. She told the committee that some funds — including certain lighting districts and animal services — currently show negative projected available fund balances because cash receipts…