Texas collected $1.73 billion in sales tax revenue in October, up 5.2% from October 2007, Comptroller Susan Combs said last week. Despite the increase, tax collections show signs of weakening, she said.
“Sales tax collections grew in the first two months of fiscal 2009, however, at slower rates than generally seen over the past three years,” Combs said. “Collections have continued to increase overall, but remittances from the key retail trade sector have begun to decline slightly as consumers grow increasingly cautious and confidence erodes.”
The state distributed $548.3 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit systems, and special-purpose taxing districts. Local sales tax allocations are up 4.4% compared to November 2007.
Cities received $373.8 million in sales tax allocations, up 4% compared to November 2007.
Counties received sales tax allocations of $33 million in November, up 8.7% from November 2007. For the calendar year to date, county sales tax allocations are 7.6% ahead of 2007.
The 137 special-purpose taxing districts in Texas received $20.5 million in sales tax rebates, up 23.4% compared to last November. Ten local transit systems received $120.9 million in November sales tax rebates, up 1.7% compared to a year ago.
