Sales tax revenue falls 7%

Clarendon merchants got off to a rocky start in 2015 based on figures released last Wednesday by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

The comptroller released sales tax figures representing January sales, and Clarendon’s tax revenue dropped 7.37 percent compared to the same period one year ago. The city received $25,132.06 for the month.

Clarendon’s sales tax collections for the calendar year-to-date are still head of this point in 2014, up 2.01 percent at $96,522.27.

Hedley’s sales tax figure also dropped for the month, down 12.56 percent to $364.55 and bringing the year-to-date figure down 2.35 percent to $1,598.59.

After months of declining revenue, however, the City of Howardwick saw a 26.59 percent uptick in its sales tax revenue to $1,409.60, but that city still trails for the year, down 3.33 percent at $3,296.38.

Statewide, sales tax revenue in February was $2.46 billion, up 11.7 percent compared to February 2014.

“This marks the 59th consecutive month of year-over-year growth – an encouraging sign that Texas’ diverse economic engine continues to drive spending growth,” Hegar said.