Sales Tax Still Zooming

Sales tax collections in May totaled $2.1 billion, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said last week, up 7.3% from May 2011 revenues.

May was the 26th consecutive month of year-to-year increases in sales tax collections, she said, thanks to continuing oil and gas activity and improved restaurant sales.

 “As the recovery continues, the year-to-year rate of growth is stabilizing,” Combs said. 

The state will distribute $514.1 million of the May collections to local governments, up almost 10% from June 2011.

Cities will receive $337.4 million, with $116.6 million going to municipal transit districts and $34.3 million to counties with a local sales tax.

Houston will get $42.9 million, with $18.8 million allocated to San Antonio and $17.4 million to Dallas.

The allocation to the 10 transit districts in Texas includes $46 million to Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority and $33.4 million to Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

Special purpose taxing districts will receive $25.8 million from the sales tax.

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