Dateline: August 17, 2006

City sales tax allotment drops after long gains

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Austin – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said Friday the state collected $1.6 billion in sales tax revenue in July, up 10.2 percent compared to July 2005.

Hedley and Howardwick sales tax revenues were up for the month, but Clarendon’s total dipped for the first time since last August.

The City of Hedley received a sales tax allocation of  $1,072.31, an increase of 80.47 percent over the same time one year ago. The July figure pushed that city’s year-to-date total to $6,373.13, an increase of 78.3 percent.

Howardwick was up 57.99 percent to $1,675.50 with a year-to-date total 6.45 percent ahead at $7,633.36.

Clarendon dropped 1.92 percent to $27,649.19 for the month, but the city’s allocations are still 7.85 percent ahead for the year with total allocations of $193,626.38 so far.

July state sales tax revenue and August allocations to local governments represent sales taxes collected in June by businesses that report taxes monthly, and sales taxes collected in April, May and June by quarterly filers.