By: Kenneth Krefft, Contributing Coulumnist
The NW Louisiana sales taxing jurisdictions saw small increases for December 2024 in Caddo and mixed results in Bossier.
The City of Shreveport completed its fiscal year last month. It levies a 2.75% sales and use tax. It received $13,271,526 for its last month, a 4.5% gain over December 2023, when it garnered $12,598,069. Its annual sum of $162,877311 was 0.4% less than 2023's $163,579,664. Sales tax receipts for items sold in December will be reported around 2/1/2025. They will constitute the first month of their 2025 fiscal year.
The Caddo Parish School Board at its halfway point in their fiscal year is slightly behind the same period a year ago. It collected $53,925,419 this year vs $54,426,064 last year, a 0.9% decrease. However, its December tally of $8,596,588 is 0.9% above the $8,521,443 generated in December 2023.
It levies a 1.5% sales tax; its fiscal year ends on 6/30/2025.
The Law Enforcement District of Caddo, i.e., the Sheriff, has a 0.35% sales tax and a calendar year fiscal year. It saw an increase in its December figure, gathering $2,002,751 for a 0.8% jump over 2023's $1,986,016. However, its yearly sum, $24,977,922, was 2.7% below 2023's figure of $25,683,133.
Bossier City-Parish wound up its 2024 fiscal year 4.7% less than 2023's, $68,007,595 vs $71,353,342, although it gained 0.8% more for its December tally, $5,464,859 vs $5,423,360.
The Bossier Parish School Board at the midpoint of its July 1 through June 30 fiscal year collected $36,533,856 compared to $36,685,282 a year before, a 0.4% decline. It saw a 0.2% dip for December 2024 vs 2023, $5,843,492 vs $5,855,552.
The Bossier Parish Police Jury's 2024 fiscal year finished a big 11.1% below 2023, $16,390,066 vs $18,439,181. A drop of 8.4% in December happened, $1,232,398 vs $1,345,396.
Anyone still assessing a 4.45% State of Louisiana sales tax hasn't changed to the current new 5% rate effective 1/1/2025. Louisiana changed its rate during the recent Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Merchants and others are costing themselves lost profits if still at the prior 4.45% rate.
Best to change it.