Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
sales tax
rebate up 10%
|
News editor -
Copperas Cove saw a 10.03 percent increase in sales tax rebates for the month of August while Coryell County saw a 9.88 percent increase.
Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn announced that the state collected $1.42 billion in sales tax in August, up 8.2 percent compared to a year ago. When the state’s 2004 fiscal year ended August 31, general revenue-related sales tax collections totaled $15.3 billion for the year, up 7.9 percent compared to FY 03, reflecting rising consumer confidence and increased business spending.
“Sales tax grew at its highest annual rate since Texas’ 1998 economic boom,” Strayhorn said. “2004 was truly an economic bumper crop of a year for Texans.”
Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts began their sales tax rebound earlier than the state. Overall, they have now seen 15 consecutive months of increased sales tax revenue.
Strayhorn delivered $327.4 million in September sales tax payments to local governments, a 7 percent increase compared to September 2003. So far this calendar year, local sales tax allocations are up 8.2 percent compared to the same period in 2003. September’s sales tax allocations include local sales taxes collected in July and reported to the Comptroller in August.
Strayhorn sent September sales tax allocations of $222.4 million to Texas cities, up 6.5 percent compared to September 2003. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax rebates are running 8.2 percent higher than last year. Texas counties received September sales tax allocations of $19.4 million, up 5.2 percent compared to a year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 8.2 percent higher than last year.
Another $9 million went to 87 special purpose taxing districts around the state, an increase of 11.9 percent compared to a year ago. So far this calendar year, sales tax allocations to special purpose districts are up 6.9 percent compared to 2003. Nine Texas transit systems received $76.5 million in September sales tax rebates, up 8.5 percent compared to a year ago. Year-to-date, transit sales tax revenues are up 8.4 percent.
Copperas Cove received $193,645.67 in rebates for the month of August an increase by $17,663.78 when compared to the $175,981.89 received last year.
Overall, Cove has received $2,074,962.79 in rebates for the year, a 6.76 increase compared to last years totals.
Coryell County received $284,072.53 in rebates from August sales, with a total year to date payments of $2,911,399.86. The amount is an increase of 7 percent compared to last year.
Gatesville received payment in the amount of $90,267.93, a 9.52 percent increase for August, So far this year, they have collected $832,210.24.
Kempner collected $2,637.44 in tax rebates, a 92.78 percent increase for the year. So far this year, they have collected $19,688.89, a 54.10 percent increase when compared to last year totals.
Bell County only saw a 3.40 percent increase in tax rebates for Aug. with $2,328,525.06 collected. So far this year, the county collected $23,57,573.89, a 7.04 percent increase.
Harker Heights continues to see a growth in rebates by 13.40 percent for Aug. with $113,540.50 collected. So far this year, the city has collected $1,060,402.18, which is an 11.44 percent increase.
Belton also saw an increase by 8.78 percent, by collecting $154,011.86 in rebates. Year totals so far are at a 5.11 percent increase with $1,432,707.28 collected.
Killeen collected $1,086,444.22 in tax rebates, an 11.11 percent increase while bringing the total year to date totals at $11,118,236.62.
Nolanville saw a 29.28 percent increase in rebates by collecting $8,310.42 in Sept. So far this year, they have collected $79,608.23, which is a 14.42 percent increase when compared to last years’ totals.