NATCHEZ — Sales tax collections took a slight downward turn in August.

The City of Natchez collected $393,737 in sales tax for August 2010, compared to $404,601 in August 2009.

City Clerk Donnie Holloway said the 2.69 percent drop is a change from recent months’ positive collections, but it is still better than the drop seen between 2008 and 2009.

“We dropped, but not as bad as last year,” Holloway said. “We dropped about $62,000 last year.”

This year’s August collection drop was $10,864.

Sales tax collections are reported two months after the fact.

Before August collections, the city has seen increased sales tax collections since February.

Most recently, the city had a 2.72 percent increase in July 2010 when compared to July 2009. Sales tax collections in that month were $436,890.

Holloway said previously car sales and increased convention activity and community events generated the increased revenues.

Prior to the six-month long upswing, the city saw steady declines in sales tax collections.

This month’s collections are the first for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.