Revenue Streak Continues

Texas sales tax revenues totaled $1.86 billion in July, up 10.3% from collections in July 2010.

Comptroller Susan Combs said July collections marked the 16th straight month of year-to-year revenue increases.

"The strong growth was again primarily in business spending in areas such as the oil and gas sector and manufacturing," Combs said. "Sales tax revenue from restaurants also showed gains."

Dean Ferguson of the Comptroller's Revenue Estimating Division called the growth rate in sales tax collections a good sign of a strengthening economy.

"We have seen, thankfully, 16 consecutive months of year-over-year gains in the sales tax here in Texas," he said. "We're seeing very strong growth in that revenue source. We're expecting that will continue."

The state will distribute $606.7 million of the July tax revenue to cities, counties, transit systems, and special taxing districts. The monthly local allocation is up 9.1% compared to 2010.

Cities will share $406.9 million of the July revenues. Houston will receive $49.8 million, San Antonio will get $22.3 million, and Dallas $21.5 million.

Since January, Texas cities have received sales tax distributions totaling $2.75 billion.

The 123 counties with a 0.5% sales tax rate will share $37.6 million of July revenues. El Paso County in far west Texas leads the list with an allocation of $3.7 million.

The 10 transit districts in Texas with a sales tax will share $135.1 million. The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority will receive $53.5 million from the July collections. Dallas Area Rapid Transit will receive $39.5 million.

A total of $27.1 million will be distributed among 177 special taxing districts.

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