By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor
UPPER CUMBERLAND – After a less-than-stellar collection cycle last month, the latest sales tax collections for the month of March show spending is on the uptick in the Upper Cumberland.
Overall, the UC saw a reported 6.1-percent bump in collections; with several nearby counties matching or even besting that amount.
The state overall saw a 10.7 percent increase in collections compared to the previous month.
Regionally speaking, Overton (33.3), Van Buren (26.8), Pickett (16.0), and Smith (11.4) counties each reported double-digit percentage gains compared to other UC counties.
Matching or besting the region’s March collection rate were Cannon (8.6), Clay (8.1), DeKalb (7.8), Fentress (9.1), and Putnam (6.1) counties.
Rounding out the remainder of the region are Cumberland (3.8), Jackson (3.9), Macon (5.2), and Warren (1.5) countries with White being the only UC county reporting the a negative percentage rate with -4.4 percent.
Collections, considered just one measure of economic activity, are based on state sales taxes; local option taxes are excluded. Data lags by one month; for example, March numbers reflect February activity.
| Counties | March 2018 | March 2017 | Percentage Change |
| Cannon | $342,941 | $315,784 | 8.6 |
| Clay | $180,290 | $166,782 | 8.1 |
| Cumberland | $3,734,941 | $3,599,109 | 3.8 |
| DeKalb | $845,283 | $783,777 | 7.8 |
| Fentress | $727,995 | $667,478 | 9.1 |
| Jackson | $169,956 | $163,577 | 3.9 |
| Macon | $1,000,176 | $950,901 | 5.2 |
| Overton | $1,033,624 | $775,160 | 33.3 |
| Pickett | $208,814 | $180,086 | 16.0 |
| Putnam | $7,684,310 | $7,244,814 | 6.1 |
| Smith | $836,351 | $750,716 | 11.4 |
| Van Buren | $90,168 | $71,114 | 26.8 |
| Warren | $2,090,827 | $2,059,969 | 1.5 |
| White | $1,180,759 | $1,235,434 | -4.4 |
| UC | $20,126,435 | $18,964,701 | 6.1 |
| TN | $659,456,000 | $595,514,000 | 10.7 |
Source: Compiled by the Upper Cumberland Development District from data published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
