JEFFERSON — Sales tax collections may be down, but so far the city’s coffers have stayed out of the negative.

During Monday’s Jefferson City Council work session, the group received an update from Amie Vaughan, city finance director.

“As of the end of October, revenue exceeds expenditures by about $280,000, so that is a good thing,” said Vaughan. “(However, Local Option Sales Tax) collections went down again this month. I don’t know what to tell you about that; it’s like a roller coaster. We’ll just have to keep watching to see where this goes.”

Last month’s dip in collections came after LOST receipts had increased steadily for the last two months. In October, $58,857 was collected; however in August, $62,781 was received and in September the total was closer to $72,000.

City Clerk Elizabeth McDonald, who is also the city’s elections superintendent, informed the group during the meeting that the election results from last week had been certified and mailed to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

Prior to the group’s work session, the council held a special called meeting to discuss plans for and receive public comment about phase three of the civic center parking lot expansion project.

In a unanimous decision, the group awarded a $371,842.40 contract for the project to Dale Construction Company of Jefferson. Phase two of the project, which included paving the lot, established around 80 parking spaces and was completed last week.

The council is expected to meet again for its voting session on Nov. 23.