Kilgore sales tax revenues still above last years
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Kilgore may have fallen from the million-dollar mark, but sales tax revenues are still soaring above last year's peaks.

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

Kilgore's allocation check totaled $826,866, up 9.98 percent from the $751,777 received last April.

Year-to-date allocations for the city total $3,595,001 up 16.97 percent over last year's year-to-date allocations of $3,073,340 through April.

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

Henderson - where the sales tax rate is half a percent higher than in Kilgore - received a check for $339,711, an increase of 9.11 percent from the $311,335 received during this same period last year. Henderson's year-to-date allocation total is also up with a gain of 11.83 percent over last year's year-to-date total of $1,331,226. Henderson's year to date total thus far in 2008 is 1,488,723.

Longview received an allocation check for $1,968,433. This allocation is 4.19 percent below than the allocation of $2,054,585 received this same period last year.

Longview's year-to-date total is $9,244,648 up 3.85 percent over year-to-date totals of $8,901,401 at this time last year.

Tyler climbed to 18th place on the comptroller's list of top 20 Texas cities for sales tax revenue earnings. During this payment period, Tyler received $2,969,173 up 15.59 percent from this payment period last year when the city received a check for $2,568,674. Year-todate Tyler has received $12,370,901 - 7.14 percent more than last year's year-todate total of $11,546,079 at this same time.

Lakeport's sales tax rebate of $5,852 this month is 6.77 percent above the $5,481 received last April. Year-to-date, the city of Lakeport has received $27,279, up 12.79 percent over year-to-date totals of $24,185, from this same period last year.

For this reporting period, White Oak is down 10.93 percent from earnings this same period last year of $78,153 to $69,609 this period. Year-todate, White Oak has received $295,764, down 3.01 percent from the year-to-date total of $304,965 reported last April.

Gladewater's check this month for $68,309 is down 2.27 percent from the $69,901 earned this same reporting period last year. Year-to-date the city of Gladewater has received $322,348 in sales tax revenue allocations, up 12.61 percent from the year-to-date total of $286,250 at this time last year.

Gregg County sales tax revenues are up .11 percent with a sales tax revenue return of $1,056,890 this period. In the same period last year, the county received $1,055,658. Year-todate totals for Gregg County are $4,725,077, up 6.68 percent over year-to-date totals of $4,428,793 at this time last year.

Smith County also recorded tax revenue increases. The county is up 15.86 percent over an allocation of $1,108,221 this same period last year, having just received a check for $1,284,078. Year to date Smith County has received $5,321,381, up 9.64 percent over year-to-date allocations, totaling $4,853,255 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, May 14.