NATCHEZ — Holiday sales did little to boost sales tax figures in the City of Natchez, but they were the best figures of the last fiscal year.

The city collected $495,552 in December 2009, down from $518,939 in December 2008 — a 4.5 percent drop. Sales tax collections are reported two months after the fact.

City Clerk Donnie Holloway said Friday he expected higher figures due to the holiday shopping season. However, “(December) was the best month we’ve had this year so far,” Holloway said.

With the exception of February, when the city reported an 8.59 percent increase in sales tax revenues — sales tax revenues have fallen every month from January to December 2009.

Sales tax revenues fell 47,307, or 10.35 percent in November. The city collected $409,969 in November 2009, down from $457,276 in November 2008.

Sales tax revenues fell $57,387, or 12.51 percent in October. The city collected $401,294 in October 2009, down from $458,681 in October 2008.

Holloway said total sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2010, which began Oct. 1, is $2,115,741.

Total sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2009 is $5,282,787, down 0.4 percent last year, Holloway said. Fiscal year 2009 began Oct. 1, 2008, and ended Sept. 30.