Combs releases sales tax numbers

AUSTIN - Comptroller Susan Combs announced this week that the state collected $1.83 billion in sales tax revenue in December, up 9.1 percent compared to December 2006.

Combs sent cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts their first sales tax allocations of 2008 - $448.3 million, up 7.3 percent compared to January 2007.

"Since the state's 2008 fiscal year began last September, sales tax collections are up 7.3 percent compared to the same point in fiscal 2007," Combs said. "While increases have moderated compared to those of the past two years, solid sales tax growth continues."

Whitehouse allocations are up 3.32 percent from last year. The most recent numbers show allocations of $43,173.63 as compared to $41,784.09 for last year.

Troup's numbers are down 15 percent, with allocations dropping from $23,387.45 to $19,734.62 last month.

Tyler also showed a slight decrease, less than 1 percent, in its allocations.

All three cities have a 1.5 percent rate.

Comptroller Combs sent January sales tax allocations of $303.2 million to Texas cities, up 7.4 percent compared to January 2007. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $26.8 million, up 5.7 percent compared to last January.

In addition, $14.8 million went to 124 special purpose taxing districts around the state, up 16.5 percent compared to last January. Ten local transit systems received $103.4 million in sales tax allocations, up 6.2 percent compared to a year ago.

December state sales tax collections and January allocations to local governments represent sales that occurred in November.

For details of January sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller's Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/ taxinfo/allocsum/ compsum.html.

SMITH COUNTY

CHEROKEE COUNTY