Sales tax revenue still slumping

State down more than 11 percent; County sees 15 percent dip

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs today said the state collected $1.65 billion in sales tax revenue in July, down 11.6 percent compared to one year ago.

“Sales tax collections in July were again down significantly as major sectors of the economy, such as retail trade; oil and natural gas; and construction, remain weak,” Combs said. “The sharp drop in revenue is a reflection of the current poor performance of these sectors as well as unusually strong sales tax collections in July 2008.”

Combs sent $544 million in August sales tax allocations to local governments, down 6.8 percent compared to August 2008. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to local governments are down 2.2 percent compared to this time last year.

Parker County municipalities sales tax revenue reflected a downturn of more than 15 percent from August 2008 totals. For the year, County entities generated $9.1 million, down just over 5.5 percent from a year ago.

The combination of strong sales a year ago and the current economic environment dropped Weatherford’s July tax revenue by more that 18 percent. The city’s year-to-date total is about $5.6 million, down approximately $300,000 from the same time a year ago. Weatherford’s July 2008 rebate came in at $850,000, about $150,000 more than July 2009.

Just east on Interstate 20, Hudson Oaks’ monthly check was down nearly 10 percent from a year ago. However, the municipality’s total as of July 2009 is less than 3 percent off 2008’s $954,000.

Two parts of Parker County are seeing very different economic times, as evidenced by the monthly sales tax collections.

Aledo on the eastern cusp of the I-20 corridor, received more than $39,000 from the Comptroller for July sales, a jump of 10 percent. For the year, Aledo remains a whopping 23 percent ahead of 2008.

On the other end of the spectrum, Springtown’s sales tax revenue has plummeted by 30 percent in the last 12 months, from $611,000 in 2008 to this year’s $429,000. For the month, the north Parker County city took in $64,000, about 27 percent below last July’s $88,000 rebate from the state.

Combs sent sales tax payments of $367.4 million to Texas cities, down 6.5 percent compared to last August. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax revenues trail 2008 by 2.3 percent. Sales tax payments of $33.8 million went to Texas counties, 4.2 percent below last August. So far in calendar year 2009, county sales tax allocations are up 0.2 percent compared to last year.

In addition, $21.2 million in sales tax revenue went to 151 special purpose taxing districts, down 0.8 percent compared to August 2008. Ten local transit systems received $121.5 million, down 9 percent compared to a year ago.

August sales tax allocations represent sales taxes collected in June by businesses that report sales taxes monthly, and sales taxes collected in April, May and June by quarterly filers.

For details of August sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Comptroller’s next sales tax allocation will be delayed until Monday, Sept. 14.