Local state sales tax revenue up 34 percent

The Gonzales County economy appears to have made the turn, with all communities realizing healthy increases in state sales tax revenue in figures released last week by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

Gonzales will receive a check for more than $175,000, and Gonzales County will net more than $200,000 in state sales tax revenue. During the last three months, Gonzales has generated more than $560,000 in state sales tax revenue, while the county has received almost $640,000.

The monthly revenue payment to Gonzales represents an increase of 54.16 percent compared to this time last year. For all county communities, state sales tax revenue for the month is up 50.64 percent from a year ago.

Overall, Gonzales and the county have realized an increase of about 34 percent in year-to-date sales tax revenue, a solid indication that the local economy is on the fast track to recovery.

Overall, state sales tax revenue in October was $1.87 billion, up 15.9 percent compared to October 2010, Combs reported.

“Strong growth in business sectors such as the oil and natural gas industry boosted sales tax revenue for yet another month,” Combs said. “State sales tax revenue has now increased for 19 consecutive months. Sales tax also grew in the manufacturing industry, as well as consumer sectors such as the restaurant industry and retail trade.”

Based on tax figures from September sales, Gonzales will receive $175,363.88 from the state, up from $113,747.24 a year ago. For 2011, Gonzales has received $1,686,956.91, an increase of more than 34 percent for the same period in 2010.

Payments to other jurisdictions around the county are:

$20,788.74 to Nixon, an increase of more than 26 percent from last year’s $16,471.44 sales tax revenue. For the year, Nixon has received $194,150.04, an increase of more than 22 percent.

$2,285.63 to Waelder, almost 46 percent as much as the $1,568.80 the city received a year ago. For 2011, Waelder has received $32,115.83, a jump of almost 83 percent over last year.

$2,086.83 to Smiley, more than 57 percent than the $1,326.80 received a year ago. The September sales tax revenue increase is the largest, by percentage, in the county. Year to date, Smiley has received $13,387.46, an increase of 13.5 percent for the same period last year.

Combs will send November sales tax allocations totaling $580.1 million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 7.1 percent compared to November 2010.