Texas sales tax revenue slows

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced the state collected $1.7 billion in sales tax revenue in April, down 1.8 percent compared to April 2007.

"This was a slight decrease compared to the dramatic growth seen in April 2007," Combs said. "For the eight months of fiscal 2008 to date, state sales tax collections are up 6 percent compared to the previous year."

As expected, the slower expansion of the Texas economy in 2008 is translating into sales tax growth below the doubledigit pace of the past two years.

Combs said local governments will receive $554.4 million in May sales tax allocations, up 2.2 percent compared to May 2007. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts are up 5.4 percent compared to a year ago.

Comptroller Combs sent May sales tax allocations of $377.7 million to Texas cities, up 1.4 percent compared to May 2007. Calendar year-todate, city sales tax allocations are up 4.9 percent compared to the same period last year. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $32.4 million, up 0.8 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 5.2 percent higher than last year.

In addition, $18.6 million went to 127 special purpose taxing districts throughout the state, up 13.9 percent compared to last May. Ten local transit systems received $125.5 million in sales tax allocations, up 3.4 percent compared to a year ago.

May's sales tax allocations to local governments represent March sales that were reported to the Comptroller in April by monthly tax filers and January, February and March sales reported to the Comptroller in April by quarterly tax filers.

Kilgore's rebate still hovers just below the mid-March million dollar peak with an allocation check that totaled $947,534.39, a 8.81 percent climb from the $870,750.87, received last May.

Year-to-date allocations for the city total $4,542,535.33, which is up 15.17 percent over last year's year-to-date allocations of $3,944,091.28, through May.

Henderson - where the sales tax rate is half a percent higher than in Kilgore - received a check for $455,656, an increase of 1.20 percent from the $450,231 received during this same period last year. Henderson's year-to-date allocation total is also up with a gain of 9.14 percent over last year's year-todate total of $1,944,379. Henderson's year to date total thus far in 2008 is 1,781,458.

Longview received an allocation check for $2,593,475. This allocation is 1.39 percent below the allocation of $2,630,073 received this same period last year.

Longview's year-to-date total is $11,838,123, up 2.65 percent over year-to-date totals of $11-531,474 at this time last year.

Tyler remains in 18th place on the comptroller's list of top 20 Texas cities for sales tax revenue earnings. During this payment period, Tyler received $3,680,031, up 8.77 percent from this payment period last year when the city received a check for $3,383,279. Year-todate Tyler has received $16,050,933 - 7.14 percent more than last year's year-todate total of $14,929358 at this same time.

Lakeport's sales tax rebate of $7,320 this month is 11.83 percent less than the $8,302 received last April. Year-to-date, the city of Lakeport has received $34,599, up 6.49 percent over year-to-date totals of $32,487, from this same period last year.

For this reporting period, White Oak is up 0.65 percent above earnings this same period last year of $89,700 to $90,292 this period. Year-to-date, White Oak has received $386,056, down 2.18 percent from the year-to-date total of $394,665 reported last April.

Gladewater's check this month for $92,534 is down 14.96 percent from the $108,470 earned this same reporting period last year. Yearto date the city of Gladewater has received $3414,590 in sales tax revenue allocations, up 5.03 percent from the year-to-date total of $394,720 at this time last year.

Gregg County sales tax revenues are up 2.34 percent with a sales tax revenue return of $1,292,914 this period. In the same period last year, the county received $1,263,350. Year-todate sales tax revenue allocation totals for Gregg County are $6,017,990, up 5.72 percent over year-to-date totals of $5,692,143 at this time last year.

Smith County also recorded tax revenue increases. The county is up 8.56 percent over an allocation of $1,413,578 this same period last year, having just received a check for $1,534,694. Year to date Smith County has received $6,856,075, up 9.40 percent over year-to-date allocations, totaling $6,266,833 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 Comptroller's next sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, June 13.