Oil and gas net Kilgore big sales tax check

Kilgore deposited another sales tax allocation check this week that exceeded the milliondollar mark, bringing total sales tax allocations for the year to $7,404,424 — more than 16 percent higher than the total of $6,361,410 received at this time last year.

Lawanna Williams, assistant financial officer to the city, said she had been under the impression that allocations had leveled off and was surprised when the city received notice of the most recent allocation of $1,186,388.25, which was 28.69 percent higher than the allocation in August of last year.

Jeff Howell, city manager, said Kilgore has an oil-driven economy and the increase has got to be oil and gas related.

"The oil and gas economy is booming," Howell said. "The more business-to-business dealing there is, the more it boosts our sales tax revenues. I hope it continues."

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs this week 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.

Sales tax payments of $393.1 million went 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.

In addition, $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.

Henderson - where the sales tax rate is half a percent higher than in Kilgore - received a check for $496,396 up 4.51 percent above the $474,966 received during this same period last year. Henderson's year-todate allocation total is up by 8.44 percent over last year's year-to-date total of $2,966,891. Henderson's yearto date total thus far in fiscal 2008 is 3,250,000.

Longview received an allocation check for $2,670,322. This allocation is 6.63 percent above the allocation of $2,504,081, received this same period last year. Longview's year-to-date allocation total is $18,690,548, up 2.54 percent over year-todate totals of $18,227,104 at this time last year.

Tyler remains at number 19 on the comptroller's list of top 20 Texas cities for sales tax revenue earnings. During this payment period, Tyler received $3,669,156, up 11.43 percent from this payment period last year when the city received a check for $3,227,906. Year to date Tyler has received $25,465,734 — 8.73 percent more than last year's year-todate total of $20,091,049 — at this same time.

Lakeport's sales tax rebate of $12,097 this month is 59.78 percent higher than the $7,571 received last July. Year-to-date, the city of Lakeport has received $82,705, up 57.68 percent over year-to-date totals of $52,488, from this same period last year.

For this reporting period, White Oak is up 11.43 percent above earnings this same period last year of $81,961 to $91,333 this period. Year-to-date, White Oak has received $640,062, up 1.84 percent above the year-todate total of $628,488 reported last August.

Gladewater's check this month for $102,059 is 28.69 percent above the $94,625 earned this same reporting period last year. Year to date the city of Gladewater has received $659,654 in sales tax revenue allocations, up 16.38 percent from the year-to-date total of $631,540 at this time last year.

Gregg County sales tax revenues are up 1.21 percent with a sales tax revenue return of $1,385,090 this period. In the same period last year, the county received $1,368,529. Year-todate sales tax revenue allocation totals for Gregg County are $9,628,830, up 3.95 percent over year-to-date totals of $9,262,150 at this time last year.

Smith County recorded tax revenue increases. The county is up 12.98 percent over an allocation of $1,381,266 this same period last year, having just received a check for $1,560,563. Year to date Smith County has received $11,042,480 up 11.15 percent over year-to-date allocations, totaling $9,934,451 at this time last year.

Both Smith and Gregg counties collect sales taxes on retail sales in unincorporated areas. Rusk County does not levy a sales tax.

State sales tax collections in May and local sales tax allocations in July represent sales that occurred in May and were reported to the Comptroller in June.

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