Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says the state collected $1.52 billion in sales tax revenue in October, down 12.8 percent compared to October 2008.
“Declining sales tax collections, which began in February, have continued with October’s collections,” Combs said. “Tax collections are down in major sectors of the economy, including retail trade, oil and natural gas and construction.”
Combs distributed $500.7 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. Local sales tax allocations are down 8.7 percent compared to November 2008.
Combs sent Texas cities $342.6 million in sales tax allocations, down 8.3 percent compared to November 2008. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are down 4.2 percent compared to the same time period last year. Texas counties received November sales tax allocations of $28.2 million, down 14.5 percent compared to one year ago. For the calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are running 3.7 percent below 2008 revenues.
The 153 special purpose taxing districts around the state received $19.4 million in sales tax, down 5.2 percent compared to last November. Ten local transit systems received $110.4 million in November sales tax rebates, down 8.7 percent compared to a year ago.
November sales tax allocations to local governments represent September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by monthly tax filers and July, August and September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by quarterly tax filers.
For details of November sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison
Summary Reports on the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.
The Comptroller’s next local sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, Dec. 11.
More information on the Texas economy can be found at: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/tracking/