Sales Tax collection up $800,000 in Vermilion Parish

Despite it being a COVID-19 year, sales tax continues to show positive in Vermilion Parish, based on the March sales tax report.
The parish as a whole collected $4.4 million or $800,000 more than a year ago when COVID-19 first began.
On the year, sales tax is up by at least 11 percent and in some municipalties, it is higher.
The big three had an increase of 20 percent this past March.
The School Board, Police Jury and Sheriff’s Office all collected a total of $500,000 more in sales tax than a year ago.
The School Board collected $200,000 more with a total collection of $1.3 million.
The Police Jury also collected $200,000 more for a total of $1.3 million.
The Sheriff’s Office collected $100,000 more for a total of $630,000.
Abbeville, like the big three, had at least a 20 percent rise in sales tax collection.
The city collected $565,000 in sales tax which is $100,000 more than a year ago.
The town of Gueydan had a 34 percent increase in sales tax collections. The town collexted $19,600 or about $5,000 more than a year ago.
The city of Kaplan had an 11 percent increase after collecting $78,000 or $11,000 more than a year ago.
Other municipalties had at least a 11 percent increase. The town of Erath collected $29,400 for a $3,000 increase.
Maurice collected $8,000 or 12 percent more for a total of $78,500.
The town of Delcambre stayed about the same, collecting $18,900.
The biggest increase came from the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission. The tourist commission collected 66 percent more than a year ago.
The tourist commission collects its revenue from hotels and motels in the parish. This past March, $7,100 was collected, which was $3,000 more than a year ago.