CORRECTION: The original publication of this story contained an incorrect number about last year’s sales tax revenues. City Clerk Donnie Holloway provided the incorrect number. The information is correct below, but the correct number for last year’s revenues is $4,410,726. We regret the error and are happy to set the record straight.

NATCHEZ — For the third month in a row, sales tax collections in Natchez are showing a decrease.

May’s sales tax revenue, which was collected this month, was down 7.6 percent from May of last year.

This May, $422,781 was collected, compared to last May’s collection of $457,478.

So far this year $4,435,027 million has been collected, at this point last year, $4,410,726 million had been collected.

“The economy is catching up with us now,” City Clerk Donnie Holloway said. “We’re usually the last to get hit and the last to come back.”

Food and lodging tax revenue decreased 6.8 percent in May from May 2008.

A total of $29,166 was collected this month compared to last May’s $31,312 collection.

Holloway said he anticipates low reports for the next several months and this dip in revenue will play largely into budget discussions for the upcoming 2009-2010 fiscal year.