Dateline: April 20, 2006

Local sales tax receipts continue upward climb

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

AUSTIN – Local cities continue to enjoy higher sales tax receipts according to information released Friday by Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

Clarendon’s rebate for March was up 10.4 percent for a total of $18,859.54, and the city’s year-to-date figure is up 9.86 percent compared to the same period last year.

The City of Hedley’s rebate was $531.72, which is up from $377.51 last March and reflects a 40.84 percent increase. That city’s year-to-date figure is more than 76 percent ahead of last year.

Howardwick also was showing growth with a $876.56 rebate that was 9.66 percent ahead of the same period last year and a year-to-date total running 4.3 percent ahead.

The state itself received $1.36 billion in sales tax revenue in March, a 13.2 percent increase compared to March 2005.

Comptroller Strayhorn sent April sales tax allocations of $249.3 million to Texas cities, up 17.8 percent compared to April 2005.  Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are running 15.5 percent higher than last year. 

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