Dateline: July 14, 2005

Clarendon's sales tax allocation rises again

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The local economy continues to generate higher sales tax returns for the City of Clarendon according to figures released Friday by Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

The city’s July sales tax allocation totaled $19,993.52, which is an increase of an even 20 percent over the same period one year ago.

After starting the calendar year with decreases, last week’s allocation marks Clarendon’s fourth straight month of significant increases. The April allocation was up 14.88 percent, May rose 15.71 percent, and June saw in increase of 10.7 percent.

The good news brings the city’s year-to-date figure up to $151,334.82, which is up 6.81 percent from the same time in 2004.

Hedley and Howardwick have not seen the same growth, however. Hedley’s allocation this month fell 37.35 percent to $352.67; and Howardwick was down 3.31 percent to $1,013.55. Both cities are also down slightly for the year-to-date.

Statewide, Strayhorn delivered $344.5 million in July sales tax allocations to cities, counties and other local taxing entities, up 9.2 percent compared to last July. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to local governments across the state are running 7.1 percent higher than last year.

Comptroller Strayhorn sent July sales tax allocations of $232.8 million to Texas cities, up 8.7 percent compared to July 2004. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are up 7.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

June state sales tax collections and July sales tax allocations to local governments mostly represent sales that occurred in May.