Sales tax revenue higher this month

AUSTIN – Clarendon’s sales tax revenues look better this month after Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered allocations to local governments Friday.

After October’s rebate plummeted nearly 16 percent from 2007’s allocation, the city’s November allocation was less than one percent down from the same period last year.

Clarendon received $32,455.58 this month, which was 0.85 percent down from $32,733.88 in November 2007.

The city is now running 0.95 percent ahead on year-to-date collections at $278,008.59.

Howardwick had another big month, bringing in $1,492.87 and posting a 30.04 percent increase over the same time last year. That city is now 14.57 percent ahead on the year-to-date at $13,651.19.

Hedley, however, continued to feel a little pinch with a November allocation of $954.73, which is off 8.05 percent from last November and has the city running 2.45 percent behind on the year-to-date.

Statewide, Texas collected $1.73 billion in sales tax revenue in October, up 5.2 percent compared to October 2007.

“Sales tax collections grew in the first two months of fiscal 2009, however, at slower rates than generally seen over the past three years,” Combs said.

“Collections have continued to increase overall, but remittances from the key retail trade sector have begun to decline slightly as consumers grow increasingly cautious and confidence erodes.”

Combs sent Texas cities $373.8 million in sales tax allocations, up 4 percent compared to November 2007.  So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are up 5.2 percent compared to the same time period last year. 

October state sales tax collections and November sales tax allocations to local governments represent September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by monthly tax filers and July, August and September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by quarterly tax filers.

The Comptroller’s next local sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, December 12.