Kilgore's sales tax revenues up again
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Kilgore's sales tax rebate fell short of its mid-March million dollar peak with an allocation check that totaled $854,842.44, an amount that's still 36.75 percent higher than the $625,081.97, received last June.

Year-to-date allocations for the city total $5,397,377.77, which is up more than 18 percent over last year's year-to-date allocations of $4,569,173.25, through June.

Henderson - where the sales tax rate is half a percent higher than in Kilgore - received a check for $368,525, a decrease of 2.82 percent from the $379,239 received during this same period last year. Henderson's year-to-date allocation total is still up by 7 percent over last year's year-to-date total of $2,160,696. Henderson's yearto date total thus far in fiscal 2008 is 2,312,903.

Longview received an allocation check for $2,057,118. This allocation is 11.19 percent above the allocation of $1,850,069, received this same period last year. Longview's year-to-date total is $13,895,241, up 3.83 percent over year-to-date totals of $13,381,543 at this time last year.

Tyler remains on the comptroller's list of top 20 Texas cities for sales tax revenue earnings. During this payment period, Tyler received $2,904,227, up 13.47 percent from this payment period last year when the city received a check for $2,559,297. Year-todate Tyler has received $18,955,160 - 8.38 percent more than last year's year-todate total of $17,488,655 -- at this same time.

Lakeport's sales tax rebate of $26,717 this month is a whopping 322.86 percent higher than the $6,318 received last June. Year-to-date, the city of Lakeport has received $61,315, up 58 percent over year-to-date totals of $38,805, from this same period last year.

For this reporting period, White Oak is up 17.95 percent above earnings this same period last year of $72,809 to $78,343 this period. Year-to-date, White Oak has received $464,399, down 0.65 percent from the year-to-date total of $467,474 reported last June.

Gladewater's check this month for $73,647 is up 11.23 percent from the $66,210 earned this same reporting period last year. Year to date the city of Gladewater has received $488,237 in sales tax revenue allocations, up 5.92 percent from the year-to-date total of $460,930 at this time last year.

Gregg County sales tax revenues are up 2.34 percent with a sales tax revenue return of $3,095,282 this period. In the same period last year, the county received $2,624,085. Year-todate sales tax revenue allocation totals for Gregg County are $20,333,521, up 7.37 percent over year-to-date totals of $18,937,213 at this time last year.

Smith County also recorded tax revenue increases. The county is up12.86 percent over an allocation of $2,799,948 this same period last year, having just received a check for $3,160, 071. Year to date Smith County has received $20,537,206, up 8.21 percent over year-to-date allocations, totaling $18,977,778 at this time last year.

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

"For the first nine months of fiscal 2008, state sales tax collections are up 5.8 percent over the same period in fiscal 2007," Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said. "While increases are smaller than in 2006 and 2007, growth in state sales tax revenues continues at a healthy rate."

Combs sent cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $459 million in June local sales tax allocations, up 9.3 percent compared to June 2007.

Combs sent June sales tax allocations of $306.3 million to Texas cities, up 8 percent compared to June 2007. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are up 5.4 percent compared to the same time period last year. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $28.4 million, up 13.2 percent compared to last June. So far this year, sales tax allocations to counties are up 6.4 percent compared to 2007.

In addition, $17.3 million went to 135 special purpose taxing districts around the state, up 21.3 percent compared to last June. Ten local transit systems received $106.9 million in sales tax allocations, up 10.2 percent compared to a year ago.

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

The Comptroller's next sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, July 11.