By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square
Shreveport collected over $13 million in sales and use taxes during September, bringing the city’s total to $125 million so far this year.
The numbers were included in financial reports this week showing city spending, sales tax collections and city revenues each month. The city is on track to meet its sales and use tax collection budget of $163.9 million, according to the documents.
Revenues for the general fund are slightly higher than they were this time last year. Across all general fund departments, the city has generated $194 million in general fund revenues, including $127 million from finance, $46.9 million from general government, $2.9 million from the police department, $11.9 million from the fire department, $2.4 million from public works and $1.4 million from city court. Last year, the city brought in $183 million for the same time frame.
Despite an increase in revenues, general fund expenditures and encumbrances total $218 million, with the most spending coming from general government, police and fire. General government has spent $53 million, the police department has spent $57 million and the fire department has spent $48 million. The general fund expenditure budget is $307 million, and the city has spent 71% of it.
The department closest to spending its full budget is parks and recreation, which has spent 82% — $17 million — of its $20 million budget.
The non-general fund expenses and encumbrances sit higher than its current generated revenue; however, the city anticipates bringing in roughly the exact amount budgeted for expenses. Non-general fund departments brought in $157 million as of Sept. 30, with the largest revenue coming from the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund — $97 million.
While revenues sit at $157 million year-to-date for non-general fund departments, encumbrances and expenses total $211 million.
The city has budgeted to spend $670 million across all funds.