City’s sales tax collections continue to rise

State sales tax collections in Philadelphia increased by $31,090 in August when compared to the same time a year ago, according to figures from the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

Municipalities in Mississippi collect sales tax for the state and receive a portion of that back each month. While not exact, sales tax returns are an indicator of how the business climate in a municipality is doing. These are funds cities use to operate on a day-to-day basis

The city received $489,320 for August, compared to the $458,230 it received last year. Since the start of the state’s fiscal year on July 1, Philadelphia has received $933,790, up from the $878,908 it had received at the same time last year.

In another financial matter, the aldermen voted during their Sep. 19 meeting to accept the Fiscal Year 2022 audit as presented by the Pearl firm of Windham & Lacey. 

The motion was approved unanimously on a 4-0 vote with Ward 1 Alderman Justin Clearman absent.

It was learned in 2021 that the city had not performed audits for the fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020.  The city hired Windham and Lacey to get them up.

Mayor James A. Young said the city is current with the audits, as required by law.

“We are caught up with the audits,” Young said. “There were no problems found and we are moving forward.”

In other matters, aldermen voted to:

• Approve a motion to give $2,500 to Main Street for the purchase of a tree for Hometown Christmas. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to accept the grant agreement mediation No. 1 with the Mississippi Water Infrastructure agency and to allow the mayor to sign a contractual agreement for the MCWI grant with the East Central Planning Development District. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to pay Allen Engineering invoice for $6,291 for work on the Runway Taxi and Seal Coat project at the Philadelphia Municipal Airport. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to pay Allen & Hoshall invoice totaling $11,500 for the Philadelphia Utilities lagoon erosion project out of the DFA bank account and the ARPA bank account. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to accept $100,000 from Team PowerUp MS Clean Energy Solar and to open a new bank account as instructed for funds to be placed into. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to allow the city clerk to attend the Fall Municipal Clerk Conference in Tupelo  October 18-20 and for the city to pay registration and travel. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion for a $1 per hour probationary raise for Chontray Walker with the Street Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to move David Tucker from full-time to part-time/reserve with the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to allow Scottie Dorman to attend the Crime Stoppers Training in Biloxi October 18-20 and for the city to pay for registration. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion for street closures for Ham Jam on Oct. 14. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to accept the resignation of Dustin Capps from the Police Department. The motion was approved unanimously; 

• Approve a motion to authorize the city attorney to assist the police chief with a civil commitment proceeding. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion for the court clerk to attend the Mississippi Municipal Court Clerks Conference at Silver Star Convention Center. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to hire Wayne Rogers with the Sanitation Department at $15 per hour. The motion was approved unanimously;

• Approve a motion to hire Jaron Tucker as a probationary firefighter at $12 per hour. The motion was approved unanimously; 

• Approve a motion to promote Randy Savel to Driver with the Fire Department at $14.13 per hour. The motion was approved unanimously.