PRESS RELEASE DETAIL

Office of the Mayor-President


For release: IMMEDIATELY

Release Date: 04/16/2014

East Baton Rouge sales-tax collections up 6.39 percent in February

Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden said today that sales-tax collections in East Baton Rouge Parish have posted a strong 6.39 percent increase over February of 2013.

Figures released today showed that the 2-percent sales tax dedicated to the city-parish general fund generated $13.8 million in February, up from $13 million in 2013.

Mayor Holden called the February showing encouraging and said it supports recent national attention Baton Rouge is receiving. “We are cautiously optimistic this trend will continue,” Holden said. “When you read the Delta Airlines Sky Magazine report on how Baton Rouge is booming and see our national rankings, it’s clear we are moving in the right direction.

Holden credits the strong film and television industry and an uptick in building and investment in Baton Rouge to getting 2014 off to a fast start. “As always, we have the people of East Baton Rouge Parish to thank for their belief in our local businesses and community,” Holden said. “With events like the Miss USA Competition and Bayou Country Superfest on the schedule, we are moving into Spring with a very robust local economy.”

Yearly collections to date reflect a 2.65 increase over 2013. To view a comparison of the city-parish general fund sales tax collections over the past five years, go to http://www.brgov.com/dept/finance/5yrhistsalestax.htm




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