By Andy Sevilla
Though Kyle received the lesser amount of sales tax dollars when compared to Hays’ other two corridor cities this month, Kyle marked the highest percentage growth of the three in the first allocation of 2015.
Kyle received $387,200 in sales tax collections this month. That amount is a 15.65 percent hike over its January 2014 collection, overlapping Buda’s and San Marcos’ growth this month by almost two and three times, respectively, when compared to the same reporting periods.
Kyle was the lone city along Hays’ I-35 corridor to mark double-digit percentage growth in January when compared to the same month last year. Buda’s and San Marcos’ sales tax percentage growth grew by 8.87 and 5.85 percent, respectively.
Kyle’s sales tax numbers are likely to see a boost in the coming months once sales made in the recently-opened movie theater and Walmart’s anticipated spring opening get in on the action.
Conversely, while San Marcos had the lowest revenue percentage growth along the corridor, it took in the largest sales tax allocation this month.
San Marcos, the most populous city in Hays County and home to Texas State University, received $2.24 million in sales tax revenue. Last January, San Marcos took in $2.12 million.
Buda received $437,700 in sales tax revenue this month. Last January, Buda took in $402,000. This is the second year Buda has begun a calendar year with a sales tax allocation of $400,000 or more.
Dripping Springs saw the largest sales tax revenue percentage growth of any city in Hays County.
Dripping Springs received $133,000 in sales tax revenue this month marking a 22.36 percent increase over its January 2014 allocation of $108,700.
Dripping Spring’s neighbor to the south, Wimberley, also experienced double-digit sales tax revenue growth this month when compared to the same reporting month in 2014.
The state’s comptroller’s office returned $48,000 in sales tax revenue to Wimberley this month, a 13.16 percent jump over its $42,400 allocation last January.
In eastern Hays County, Niederwald received $233 more in sales tax revenue this month, than it did last January, marking a 14.66 percent increase.
Niederwald took in $1,825 in revenue.
Meanwhile, Uhland, who received $144 more in revenue this month over last January, marked an increase of only 2.12 percent for its first allocation of 2015.
Uhland received $6,931 in sales tax revenue this month.
Hays County, who collects 0.5 percent sales tax on every sale made within its borders, took in $1.26 million in sales tax revenue this month. That collection marked an 8.42 percent increase over its collection last January of $1.16.
January sales tax figures represent November sales reported by monthly tax filers.
Across the state, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed $618 million in sales tax revenue to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts.
“Although moderating slightly, growth in sales tax revenues continues to be seen across all economic sectors,” Hegar said in a statement. “Collections from the oil and natural-gas, construction, manufacturing, and services sectors rose, while remittances due to consumer spending in the retail trade and restaurant sectors also grew.”
This month’s statewide revenue is up 7.7 percent over last January’s allocation.
