Dateline: October 19, 2006

City sales tax receipts increase in Septemeber

AUSTIN – Local sales tax receipts continued their upward climb this month as Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn released September figures on Friday.

Clarendon’s sales tax allocation posted a gain for the second month in a row with receipts totally 25,718.94, which is up 14.85 percent from the same period one year ago. The city is running 10.2 percent ahead for the year to date total.

Hedley was up 63.95 percent to $1,113.68, pushing that city’s year to date figure up 66.42 percent.

Howardwick also saw an increase of 8.2 percent to a total of $1,288.04 for September and increasing the figure for the year to date 6.58 percent.

Statewide, Strayhorn said that the state took in $1.51 billion dollars in sales tax in September, a 13.7 percent increase over September 2005. 

September state sales tax collections and October allocations of local tax revenue represent sales that occurred in August.  The sales tax growth reflects the overall strength of the Texas economy.  The increase in tax revenue is due in part to August’s three-day Sales Tax Holiday that annually packs stores with Texans and out-of-state shoppers who splurge on taxable items along with tax-free clothing and shoes. 

Strayhorn sent sales tax allocations of $282.6 million to cities across Texas, 14.4 percent more than October 2005.  Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are up 14.2 percent.