Increases in St. Mary Parish sales and use tax collections for the majority of the months so far in 2018 may be indicative of the start of an improving economy. Parish sales and use tax collections totaled $2.76 million in August, a 2.7 percent increase from the $2.69 million collected in August 2017. Excluding collections made as a result of financial audits, collections rose 6.4 percent. August saw $24,635 in audit collections compared to $116,518 during August 2017. “We have had more positive or increasing months than negative this year,” said Jeff LaGrange, parish sales and use tax director, in ...