State reports higher local sales tax revenue

Local sales tax collections are on the increase, according to information released this week by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

The City of Clarendon’s October allocation was up 17.91 percent over the same period last year with revenue of $23,694.06.  That brings the city’s sales tax revenue for the calendar year-to-date to $254,654.59, a 2.99 percent increase.

Hedley also posted an increase with an allocation of $335.03, which is up 33.82 percent over last year and brings the city up 23.67 percent for the year at $6,097.29

Howardwick’s revenue was up 73.28 percent at $1,307.85 for the month and is now 8.54 percent ahead for the year at $11,293.59.

Statewide sales tax collections totaled $1.57 billion in September, up 6.8 percent compared to a year ago.

“This increase is significantly larger than recent monthly gains which have been in the 0 to 2 percent range,” said Combs. “Sales tax increases were posted across almost all sectors including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade and restaurants.”

Combs will send local governments $443.5 million in monthly sales tax allocations, a 6 percent increase compared to a year ago. So far this calendar year, local sales tax allocations across the state are still down 1.3 percent compared to the same period in 2009.

Combs will distribute monthly sales tax allocations of $300.1 million to Texas cities, up 6.1 percent compared to last October. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are running 1 percent lower than the same time last year.

The state and local sales tax figures represent sales that occurred in August.

For details of sales tax allocations to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller’s Web site www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.
The Comptroller’s November local sales tax allocation will be made on Monday, Nov. 15.