DALLAS - Texas sales tax revenue rose 3.9% in December to $2.25 billion compared to December 2012 but fell below November's record $2.41 billion, state comptroller Susan Combs reported Jan. 8.
The December report represents 45 consecutive months of increases, Combs said.
"Consumer spending in retail trade contributed to the latest gain in state sales tax collections," Combs said. "Other sectors such as telecommunications also contributed to the monthly growth."
Combs will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts allocations of $573.5 million, an increase of 8.1% compared to January 2013, she said.
Among the state's 20 largest cities, San Antonio enjoyed the largest increase in sales tax revenue, up nearly 25% to $22.9 million, compared to $18.4 million in December 2012.
Only two cities reported decreases in revenue. Grand Prairie, a suburb of Dallas, saw sales tax revenues fall 2.3% to $3.2 million from nearly $3.3 million in the same month of 2012. McAllen in the largely impoverished Lower Rio Grande Valley suffered a 1.8% decrease to $5.1 million, compared to $5.2 million in December 2012.
Overall, Texas cities saw a 7.4% increase in revenues, while counties experienced a 0.4% decline. Transit systems received a 10.3% increase, while special purpose taxing districts saw revenues rise 19%.
Over the past 44 months, Combs has reported growing sales tax revenues, indicating a steady recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression.
