DALLAS -- Texas sales tax revenues rose 3.7% in June compared to June 2013. The $2.24 billion month marks the 51st consecutive month of year-over-year increases, the state comptroller, Susan Combs, announced July 9.
The June figure was down 8.6% from May's record $2.45 billion.
Combs will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts their July local sales tax allocations totaling $602.5 million, up 4.2% compared to July 2013.
"Sales tax revenues continue to grow at a moderate pace," Combs said. "The increase was led by remittances from the wholesale trade, services, and restaurant sectors. Fiscal year-to-date collections have now grown by 5.2%."
Cities are the largest recipient of the sales tax revenue with $394 million coming in June. Transit systems will receive $134.2 million, while counties will take in $39.6 million. Special purpose taxing districts are due $34.6 million.
Among the state's largest cities, Houston will see an increase of 1.67% to $50.5 million. San Antonio's share rises 4.72% to $23.2 million, and Dallas eked out a 0.23% increase to $19.7 million. Austin also registered a small 0.37% increase to $14.1 million while Fort Worth saw a 2.4% lift to $9.8 million.
For the year to date, San Antonio has registered the largest sales tax increase of 17.3%, while only one of the 20 largest cities, Arlington, saw a decline, of 3.6%.
San Antonio, home to three military bases, benefits from the stability of government jobs while experiencing an energy boom in the Eagle Ford Shale play of South Texas.
In a separate report, Combs noted that military installations provide an economic impact of more than $148 billion in Texas and account for 6% of the state's economic activity. The bases employ more than 255,000 military and defense-related civilian personnel.
Texas carries triple-A ratings from all three ratings agencies.
