Dateline: March 16, 2006

City sales tax up again 

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn announced Friday that state sales tax revenue in February totaled $1.54 billion, up 15.2 percent compared to February 2005.

All three Donley County cities recorded higher sales tax rebates for this period.

Collections for the City of Clarendon grew 1.49 percent with $20,252.30, marking the city’s fifth straight month of growth and bringing the year-to-date total to $71,788.75, which is 9.73 percent ahead of the same point last year.

Hedley’s economy also grew at a fast clip, nearly doubling its rebate from February of last year. The city’s rebate of $909.68 was up 97.46 percent from one year ago, and the year-to-date figure is also 85.95 percent ahead.

Howardwick gained 7.01 percent for a total of $917.11, and that city’s year-to-date figure is also slightly up with a gain of 2.63 percent.

State sales tax revenue for February, and March payments made to local governments today, represents sales that occurred in January.