The Natchitoches City Council received an extensive financial update during its Nov. 24 meeting, with Finance Director Clarissa Brown-Smith reporting strong year-to-date sales tax performance, notable gains across several Economic Development Districts, and continued improvement in online sales tax collections.
The report included a breakdown of sales tax distribution for the current fiscal year, which began in June. As of Oct. 31, the city collected $12.3 million in sales taxes, a figure she said provides a clear picture of ongoing revenue trends.
A multi-year bar graph comparing collections showed the city was 4.8 percent above last year, an increase of approximately $570,000, marking more than half a million dollars in additional revenue compared to the previous two years.
Month-to-month data reflected a temporary dip. For October alone, collections were down 6 percent, a decrease of $82,000 compared to October of the previous year. Smith noted that while October was slightly lower, the city remained ahead overall for the fiscal year.
A second comparison chart showed that for the city’s fiscal year-to-date totals, revenues were up 4.2 percent, an increase of $250,000 over last year’s cumulative figures. A related metric showed the city up 4 percent, or $241,000, when comparing overall collections versus distributions.
Updates on the city’s Economic Development Districts (EDD) shows steady or significant improvement over last year:
• EDD A: up 1 percent
• EDD C: up 15 percent
• EDD D: up 10 percent
• EDD E: up 13 percent
• EDD F: up 20 percent
Council members noted that the strong performance in EDD C aligns with increased hotel activity along University Parkway and the I-49 corridor.
Hotel occupancy tax collections, which operate under separate districts, showed mixed performance. District A was down 8 percent, a decrease of slightly under $4,000, while District C was up 22 percent, reflecting strong travel and lodging activity ahead of the holiday season.
Smith also highlighted the city’s gains in remote and online sales tax collections. The Sales Tax Commission reported that Natchitoches was up 16 percent in online sales tax revenue compared to last year. At this time last year, the city had collected $1.7 million in online sales taxes. This year, the total has reached almost $2.1 million, surpassing last year’s benchmark by approximately $400,000.
These online tax collections are an increasingly vital revenue source. Strong compliance and improving digital sales tracking have helped the city benefit from shifts in consumer buying habits.
Council members expressed encouragement at the overall financial outlook heading into the holiday season, with several noting that early November activity in the city appeared strong.
Among other agenda items, the council approved the final adoption of an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 64 of 2001 to change the zoning classification for a 0.438-acre property located at 1041 Washington Street. The tract, identified as Tract 2A on a plat prepared by Robert L. Davis dated Sept. 8, 2021, received approval for its updated zoning designation.
Three ordinances were introduced involving agricultural leases for hay operations on city-owned property. These included:
• a lease of fenced acreage at the Natchitoches Regional Airport with James Russell Stacy,
• a lease of a 25-acre tract in the Industrial Park with James R. Stacy, and
• a lease of a 29.7-acre tract in the Industrial Park with M & M Farms of Cane River, L.L.C.
Each ordinance authorizes Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. to execute the lease upon completion of required advertising.
The council also addressed several resolutions tied to the city’s street improvement projects. Members approved Change Orders No. 1 and No. 2 for the FY 2023 LCDBG Street Improvements project with Regional Construction LLC under Bid No. 0671. Another resolution executed the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the 2025 Street Rehabilitation Program with Apeck Construction LLC under Bid No. 0676.
The council will meet again on Dec. 10, 2025.
