By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor
UPPER CUMBERLAND – A few Upper Cumberland counties reported double-digit state sales tax gains in October but, overall, collections across the region are down by a tenth of a percent compared to the previous month.
The UC’s top two collectors – by percentage gains – for the month, Jackson (13.2) and Pickett (22.7) counties, were also the region’s only to report double-digit growth. Elsewhere in the region, counties reporting positive numbers – including Cumberland (1.9), Fentress (1.8), Macon (1.0), and Overton (6.3) – saw more modest growth.
Putnam, typically one of the region’s top collectors, held steady with no reported change.
Approximately half of the counties in the region reported a dip in collections including Cannon (-3.6), Clay (-11.4), DeKalb (-2.3), Smith (-6.8), Warren (-3.7) and White (-0.1).
The state saw a 4.0 percent improvement while the UC was down -0.1 percent, respectively.
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, November numbers reflect October activity.
| Counties | October | Year Prior | Percent change |
| Cannon | $347,585 | $388,461 | -3.6 |
| Clay | $219,529 | $247,639 | -11.4 |
| Cumberland | $4,161,584 | $4,084,896 | 1.9 |
| DeKalb | $771,715 | $790,172 | -2.3 |
| Fentress | $765,689 | $752,024 | 1.8 |
| Jackson | $169,963 | $150,165 | 13.2 |
| Macon | $1,053,472 | $1,042,648 | 1.0 |
| Overton | $926,686 | $871,443 | 6.3 |
| Pickett | $224,668 | $183,065 | 22.7 |
| Putnam | $8,096,179 | $8,095,340 | 0.0 |
| Smith | $859,044 | $921,653 | -6.8 |
| Van Buren | NA | NA | NA |
| Warren | $2,121,146 | $2,201,909 | -3.7 |
| White | $1,288,929 | $1,333,079 | -3.3 |
| UC | $21,033,189 | $21,062,494 | -0.1 |
| TN | $716,158,000 | $688,893,000 | 4.0 |
Source: Compiled by the Upper Cumberland Development District from data published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
