Kilgore's sales tax revenue makes history

By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Last month - for the first time in history - Kilgore's monthly sales tax check topped the $1 million mark. This month was shy of that mark, but still soaring compared to last year's numbers.

Susan Combs, state comptroller, released March's sales tax allocation report this week.

Kilgore's allocation check totaled $941,666, up 28.07 percent from the $735,269 received last March.

Year-to-date allocations for the city total $2,768,135 up 19.23 percent over last year's year-to-date allocations of $2,321,574 through March.

Across the region, sales tax rebates also continue to increase.

Henderson - where the sales tax rate is half a percent higher than in Kilgore - is the exception after receiving a check for $230,75, a decrease of 19.12 percent from the $285,386 received during this same period last year. Henderson's year-todate allocation total is up with a gain of 12.66 percent over last year's year-to-date total of $1,019,891. Henderson's year to date total thus far in 2008 is 1,149,012.

Longview received an allocation check for $1,993,722. This allocation is 10.4 percent higher than the allocation of $1,820,811 received this same period last year.

Longview's year-to-date total is $7,276,215 up 2.07 percent over year-to-date totals of $6,846,815 at this time last year.

Tyler climbed to 19 on the comptroller's list of top 20 Texas cities for sales tax revenue earnings. During this payment period, Tyler received $2,686,476 up 10.05 percent from this payment period last year when the city received a check for $2,438,880. Year-todate Tyler has received $9,603,034 - 4.72 percent more than last year's year-todate total of $9,844,983 at this same time.

Lakeport's sales tax rebate of $5,186 this month is 14.56 percent above the $4,526 received last March. Year-to-date, the city of Lakeport has received $21,427, up 14.55 percent over year-to-date totals of $18,707, from this same period last year.

For this reporting period, White Oak is up 2.07 percent from earnings this same period last year of $73,891 to $75,422 this period. Year-to-date, White Oak has received $226,155, down 0.28 percent from the year-to-date total of $226,811 reported last March.

Gladewater's check this month for $83,198 is up 18.29 percent over the $70,329 earned this same reporting period last year. Year-to-date the city of Gladewater has received $254,038 in sales tax revenue allocations, up 17.42 percent from the year-to-date total of $216,348 at this time last year.

Gregg County sales tax revenues are up 14.62 percent with a sales tax revenue return of $3,103,318 this period. In the same period last year, the county received $3,707,433. Year-todate totals for Gregg County are $10,559,468, up 5.17 percent over year-to-date totals of $9,695,313 at this time last year.

Smith County also recorded tax revenue increases. The county is up 10.61 percent over an allocation of $2,629,010 this same period last year, having just received a check for $2,908,194. Year to date Smith County has received $10,197,422, up 5.17 percent over year-to-date allocations, totaling $9,638,249 at this time last year.

Both counties collect sales taxes on retail sales in un-incorporated areas. Rusk County does not levy a sales tax.

The next allocation report from Combs' office is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9.