Tax collections on pace to exceed expectations

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Mississippi is on track to exceed its projected monthly tax collections for the first time in more than a year and a half.

State Tax Commission spokeswoman Kathy Waterbury says that as of yesterday, collections were about one-quarter of 1 percent — or $1.2 million — ahead of where experts predicted they would be in March.

Waterbury says corporate and gaming tax revenues were up significantly, while sales and individual income taxes missed the mark.

Lawmakers struggling to write a budget see the uptick in collections as good news. But experts warn that one month’s collections don’t indicate a trend.

February marked the 18th consecutive month for tax collections to fall short of expectations.