Published: August 11, 2008 10:05 am      

Sales tax revenues up locally

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said the state collected $1.8 billion in sales tax revenue in July, up 10.4 percent compared to one year ago.

“Through July, fiscal 2008 state sales tax collections are up 6.5 percent,” Combs said. “The Texas economy remains strong; however, we continue to monitor the slower growth seen nationally.”

Combs sent $583.4 million in August sales tax allocations to local governments, up 9.2 percent compared to August 2007. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to local governments are up 6.3 percent compared to this time last year.

Combs sent sales tax payments of $393.1 million to Texas cities, up 8 percent compared to last August. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax revenues surpass 2007 by 5.4 percent. Sales tax payments of $35.3 million went to Texas counties, 13.9 percent higher than last August. So far in calendar year 2007, county sales tax allocations are up 7.3 percent compared to last year.

Parker County continues to out pace most of the state, showing growth of almost 9 percent over 2007 year-to-date totals and expanding at a rate of almost 14 percent over August receipts a year ago.

Weatherford received an August rebate check from Combs for approximately $850,000, up more than 17 percent over last year’s $724,000. Year to date, Weatherford has pocketed close to $6 million, a jump of slightly less than 10 percent over 2007.

Hudson Oaks and Willow Park are also enjoying double-digit growth in sales tax revenue.

Hudson Oaks’ check for $131,000 is a boost of 15.69 percent over last August, while the city’s total for the year is $954,000, a 14 percent increase from 2007 receipts.

With August’s $70,000 deposit, Willow Park has accumulated $438,000 in sales tax rebates for 2008, a 17.41 percent leap from last year at the same time.

In addition, Combs reported $21.3 million in sales tax revenue went to 135 special purpose taxing districts, 21.5 percent more than in August 2007. Ten local transit systems received $133.5 million, up 9.9 percent compared to a year ago.

July state sales tax revenue and August allocations to local governments represent sales taxes collected in June by businesses that report sales taxes monthly, and sales taxes collected in April, May and June by quarterly filers.

For details of August sales tax payments 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 at www.window.state.tx.us/ taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.

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