State sales tax collections increase in March

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said last Friday the state received $1.53 billion in sales tax revenue in March, up 11.9 percent compared to March 2006.

"The national economy is showing signs of a slowdown, particularly in the housing sector, but we are still seeing healthy growth in the Texas economy and a corresponding growth in state sales tax revenue, Combs said.

Local sales tax also continue to grow. Combs sent $404 million in April sales tax allocations to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, a 9.7 percent increase compared to April 2006. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to local governments are up 6.4 percent.

Comptroller Combs sent April sales tax allocations of $272.4 million to Texas cities, up 9.3 percent compared to April 2006. Calendar year-todate, city sales tax allocations are running 7.1 percent higher than last year. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $24,8 million, up 11.1 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 8.4 percent higher than last year.

On the eastern end of Henderson County, it was the city of Brownsboro that saw the largest increase with a payment of $10,035.83, up 48.26 percent compared to last April's payment of $6,768.71. Four months into the year of 2007 has Brownsboro 14.19 percent ahead of last year's calendar to date payments.

Berryville followed with a 36.47 percent increase compared to last April, receiving $760.67. Calendar-to-date the city of Berryville's payments total $3,232.26, a 26.21 percent increase over the same period last year.

The Comptroller sent $2,011.15 to the city of Murchison, a 24.92 percent hike over last April's payment of $1,609.83. However, calendar to-date, Murchison is 26.64 percent behind in their tax rebate payments compared to the same period in 2006.

Poynor's check for $2,818.78 is up 5.28 percent compared to April 2006. Year-to-date, payments are 3.83 percent lower than last year.

Coffee City showed only a slight increase of 1.54 percent compared to last April, with a payment of $13,178.60. This brings their year-to-date total to $62,481.62, a 4.11 percent increase over the same period last year.

The city of Chandler received $24,657.19, a 0.12 percent decrease compared to last April's payment of $24,687.33. Calendar-todate, the city has received $124,441.13 which is 3.48 percent more compared to the first four months of 2006.

Receipts for Henderson County totaled $639,123.99, down 2.06 percent compared to last April. Year-to-date the County is up .21 percent with payments totaling $2,875,593.72.

For a complete breakdown of the of local cities' sales tax rebates please refer to the accompanying chart.

State sales tax revenue for March, and April payments made to local governments last week, represent sales that occurred in February.

The Comptroller's next sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, May 11.