Comptroller to Send June Sales Tax Allocations to Cities and Counties

By Will Johnson                                                                                                                                                        Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – Area cities and counties will soon receive their August sales tax revenue disbursements from the state. In a press release dated Aug. 10, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar stated, “The cities of San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano and Irving saw noticeable increases in sales tax allocations. Energy-centric cities, such as Houston and Midland, continue to see decreases in sales tax allocations.”

Hegar will send August local sales tax allocations totaling $769.3 million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. According to the comptroller’s office, the allocations are up 1.2 percent when compared to August of 2015.

As to how this affects area residents, Houston County Auditor Melissa Mosley previously provided an explanation of how the sales tax allocations affect property taxation in the county. “Sales tax collections received by the County from the Comptroller are directly related to the ad valorem property tax reduction. When calculating the effective tax rate, the actual taxes collected – not budgeted – are reduced from the value, thereby reducing the tax rate. The county sales and use tax of 1/2 cent was put in place to lower the property tax. Whatever money we receive from sales tax is directly related to the amount of property tax rate reduction,” the auditor clarified.

“When anticipating revenues, the entire budget process is an educated guess. Houston County officials have historically been very conservative and realistic which has helped the county hold a recommended fund balance level, even while other entities were struggling and making cuts,” Mosley asserted.

Texas cities will receive $505.2 million, up 1.8 percent compared to Aug. 2015. Texas counties can anticipate sales tax allocations of $43 million, down 7.1 percent compared to last year’s numbers.

In addition, Hegar will send $46.8 million to 248 special purpose taxing districts, up 1.8 percent compared to last year. The ten transit system authorities in Texas will receive $174.4 million in sales tax allocations, up 1.4 percent compared to a year ago. The sales tax allocations referenced above represent “… sales made in June by businesses that report tax monthly, and sales made in April, May and June by quarterly filers.

At the local level, Houston County showed a decrease in allocations for the fourth consecutive month. The county has a tax rate of 0.50 percent and will receive $103,129.74 – down from $104,723.02 received for the same tax period last year, indicative of a 1.52 percent downward move. So far this year, Houston County has received $789,946.59 compared to last year’s total of $810,967.35 for a modest decrease of 2.59 percent.

The incorporated cities of Houston County showed mixed results with three of the five showing an increase in the allocation of sales tax payments. The City of Crockett, which has a 1.5 percent tax rate, will receive $182,780.81 in sales tax allocations. This is up from $170,073.26 received for the same tax period last year and reflects a 7.47 percent increase. Yearly total payments to date show Crockett has garnered $1,374,950.99 compared to last year’s total of $1,113,779.55 for a 23.44 percent increase.

The City of Grapeland, which also has a 1.5 percent tax rate, will realize $20,298.31 in sales tax allocation payments. This is up from the $18,946.63 received for the same tax period last year and reflects an incline of 7.13 percent. Year to date figures are also indicative of an incline, going from $125,875.12 received last year at this time to $143,437.82 amassed so far this year, for a 13.95 percent up tick.

The City of Kennard, which has a 1.0 percent tax rate, will acquire $2,256.12 in disbursements. This is up from the $1,732.95 taken in during the same tax period last year, indicating a 30.18 percent increase. Year to date figures are also showing a downward trend from $ 12,098.45 collected last year at this time to $15,020.92 received so far this year. This signifies a 24.15 percent increase in sales tax payments.

The City of Latexo, which also has a 1.0 percent tax rate, will procure $ 1,779.50 in sales tax allocations. This represents a significant decrease from the $4,478.99 received for the same tax period last year and indicates a 60.77 percent decline. Year-to-date figures are also showing a decrease from $16,114.69 (2015) to $12,094.47 (2016), which marks a 24.94 percent decrease in allocations.

The City of Lovelady, which has a 1.25 percent tax rate, will garner $7,347.45 in sales tax allocations. This is less than the $7,809.83 accrued for the same tax period last year and reflects a decrease of 5.92 percent. Year-to-date figures, however, are showing an increase going from $49,217.69 to $54,364.24. This represents a progression of 10.45 percent.

Anderson County, which has a 0.50 percent tax rate, will receive $260,076.96 in sales tax payments. This is a decrease from $260,974.49 received for the same reporting period last year and indicates a slight decline of 0.34 percent. Year to date numbers are also showing a downward move from $1,983,879.74 received last year at this time to $1,735,150.04 received so far this year. The decreased allocation represents a shrinkage of 12.53 percent.

The City of Elkhart, which has a 1.25 percent tax rate, will receive $15,400.21in sales tax allocations. This is up from the $12,407.11 received for the same tax period last year and represents an increase of 24.12 percent. Year to date figures are also showing an increase from $93,358.82 (2015) to $111,530.19 (2016), reflective of a 19.46 percent rise in tax allocation payments.

The City of Palestine, which has a 1.50 percent tax rate, will receive $648,752.91 in sales tax allocations. This is up from the $594,801.01 received for the same tax period last year and reflects an incline of 9.07 percent. Year-to-date figures, however are showing a decrease from a total of $4,230,485.01 received last year at this time to $4,137,825.14 received so far this year, representative of a 2.19 percent drop.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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