Sales tax revenues up again

 Donley County cities continued to enjoy higher sales tax revenues when Texas Comptroller Susan Combs made her August allocation last week.

The large increase in local sales has been attributed to a petroleum by-product pipeline crew that has been making its temporary home in the area.

After seeing growth of more than 40 percent each of the last two months, Clarendon’s sales tax revenue for this month was up 23.62 percent compared to the same period in 2012. The city received $44,009.31 compared to $35,600.20 last August and is now running 26.04 percent ahead for the calendar year-to-date at $276,214.96.

Hedley’s revenue this month was up 46.57 percent at $896.16 and is 44 percent higher for the year at $4,964.40.

Howardwick has also seen some growth with revenue this month up 9.22 percent and an allocation of $1,791.32. That city is up 3.7 percent for the year.

“Texas sales tax revenue has increased for 40 consecutive months,” Combs said.

Combs said that statewide sales tax revenue in July was $2.2 billion, up 7.3 percent compared to July 2012.

The sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in June as well as April, May and June sales by businesses that report tax quarterly.