Dateline: November 15, 2007

Clarendon sale tax revenue increases 

Clarendon’s sales tax revenue increased in October after dropping more than 14 percent in September, according to information released by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

 The city’s sales tax allocation for October 2007 was reported as $32,733.88, which is up 8.17 percent over the same period last year.

The September drop had knocked Clarendon’s year-to-date figure into the negative by more than one percent; but with October’s data, that figure nearly recovered and is now down only 0.14 percent at $275,388.47.

“The lower growth rate is a reflection of a general easing of sales activity, most noticeable in the retail trade sector, and is consistent with a slowing economy,” Combs said.

Other Donley County city allocations were mixed. Hedley was up 22.93 percent to $1,038.36 for the month but was still down 26.83 percent for the year. Howardwick, meanwhile, was down 10.21 percent for October at $1,147.94 but was up 2.23 percent for the year-to-date.

Statewide, Combs sent Texas cities $359.4 million in sales tax allocations, up 3.0 percent compared to November 2006.  So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are up 6.6 percent compared to the same time period last year. 

October state sales tax collections and November sales tax allocations to local governments represent September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by monthly tax filers and July, August, and September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by quarterly tax filers.