State tax collections still down

AUSTIN — Last week’s disbursement of October sales tax revenue was down nearly 13 percent statewide as key portions of the state’s economy continue to suffer.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says the state collected $1.52 billion in sales tax revenue in October, down 12.8 percent compared to October 2008.

“Declining sales tax collections, which began in February, have continued with October’s collections,” Combs said. “Tax collections are down in major sectors of the economy, including retail trade, oil and natural gas and construction.”

Combs distributed $500.7 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. Local sales tax allocations are down 8.7 percent compared to November 2008.

Combs sent Texas cities $342.6 million in sales tax allocations, down 8.3 percent compared to November 2008. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are down 4.2 percent compared to the same time period last year.

Sales tax collections for cities in Parker County are collectively faring a little worse than the statewide average. Municipalities within the county took in $1.141 million for October, compared to $1.34 million a year ago, reflecting a downward slide of nearly 15 percent.

The numbers are skewed downward as a result of steep losses in tax revenue in the northern portion of the county.

Springtown, which received a rebate check of $97,000 for the same period a year ago, had sales tax income fall more than 36 percent. For the year, Springtown sales tax collections are down almost $240,000, or about 28 percent.

In addition ,

Willow Park’s $57,000 October total is more than 27 percent down, a loss of $21,000 over the same time a year past. For 2009, the picture is somewhat brighter for Willow Park, which has banked $544,000, still a 12 percent dip.

Just west, Hudson Oaks posted a $101,000 October collection, down about $18,000 or slightly more than 14 percent, and has accumulated $1.245 million for 2009, about 6 percent less than last year.

Weatherford continues to show negative growth, but is still ahead of most of the rest of the state.

For October, Weatherford took in nearly $700,000 for a year-to-date total of about $7.5 million.

October 2008 collections totaled about $785,000, while the same period last year showed a cumulative $8.2 million.

Aledo, which posted a 9 percent loss from 2008 for the month, is still trending in the black. For October, the east Parker County municipality took in $34,000. Year-to-date, however, Aledo is more than 13 percent ahead of 2008, with its $356,000 total.

Texas counties received November sales tax allocations of $28.2 million, down 14.5 percent compared to one year ago. For the calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are running 3.7 percent below 2008 revenues.

Parker County while still showing a loss of about $150,000 for October, has collected $5.3 million for the year. While still a loss of approximately $700,000 year-to-date, the county, down more than 11 percent, is statistically ahead of the state’s average.

The 153 special purpose taxing districts around the state received $19.4 million in sales tax, down 5.2 percent compared to last November. Ten local transit systems received $110.4 million in November sales tax rebates, down 8.7 percent compared to a year ago.

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.

For details of November 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.

The Comptroller’s next local sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, Dec. 11.