The year of 2020 may have brought pandemic in the form of Covid-19, lost wages, business closures, etc. to the American home-front, but for Allen Parish, the sales tax collection report ended the year on a positive note.
In monthly comparisons, $1.196 million was collected in December 2019, compared to $1.457 million collected in 2020. Overall in monthly collections, the parish saw decreases in its tourism-related funds – the Allen Parish Occupancy Tax (-18.38 percent) and the Allen Parish Tourist Commission (also -18.38 percent).
The occupancy tax fund collected $1,346.62 less in December 2020 ($5,978.29) when compared to 2019’s collections of $7,324.91.
The tourist commission also saw a decrease in the amount of $4,040.01. This year, it collected $17,934.82 compared to last year’s collections of $21,974.83
The only fund seeing a decrease in 2020 overall was Reeves (-4.16 percent). At the end of 2019, Reeves collected $59,483.39, and at the end of 2020, the village collected $57,010.87.
Shopping locally helps local communities and other governing bodies, because these sales tax collections help pay the bills in local communities. Allen Parish saw a positive increase despite the many negative aspects Covid-19 brought with it during the year. This means residents put their dollars to good use in funding the parish’s governmental bodies. Just like in the home, extra dollars give government leaders more avenues and projects to consider, as well as pay debt off.
According to data provided by Independent We Stand (https://www.independentwestand.org/what-happens-when-you-shop-local), shopping locally means:
•More money stays in one’s local economy.
•Residents embrace what makes their community unique.
•Creates jobs – could be in this particular business or in government.
•Nurturing one’s community by encouraging local businesses to donate to community causes.
•Conserve tax dollars.
•Creates more choices.
•Investing in local entrepreneurship.
•Even attract new neighbors, visitors and guests to the community.
