Sales and use tax collections are improving in St. Mary Parish, but oilfield companies are looking for workers as many people have found jobs elsewhere, according to parish officials. Collections totaled $2.97 million in September, a 12.1 percent increase from the $2.65 million collected during September 2017. Excluding collections made as a result of financial audits, collections increased 7.4 percent. Officials collected $129,313 from audits in September, and $4,537 during the same month of the prior year. September hotel sales tax collections were $44,159, up 15.9 percent from the $38,112 collected in September 2017. St. Mary and surrounding parishes are ...