By Andy Sevilla.
A town of just over 1,000 residents in far east Hays County had a near $4,000 increase in sales tax collections this month, marking a 135 percent revenue hike when compared to their February 2013 receipts.
Uhland received $6,836.53 in sales tax collections this month, up from the $2,898.37 it received in February 2013, according to Texas Comptroller records. So far this calendar year, Uhland has taken in a total $13,624.05 in sales tax collections for January and February – an 81.05 percent jump over the same two-month total last year.
Meanwhile, Niederwald, a town of about 565 according to 2010 U.S. Census figures, which saw negative sales tax growth in its January collections, recovered this month and took in $70 more than it did in February last year, comptroller records show. That 4.06 percent revenue hike this month however was not enough to bring the town out of negative sales tax growth for the year, when compared to the same reporting time last year.
Niederwald has received $3,392.50 in sales tax collections so far this year, a 7.66 percent decline from the total $3,674.12 it received for January and February 2013.
Kyle edged Buda out in sales tax collections this month by nearly $46,000, presumably due to the 2013 holiday shopping.
The sales tax collections local governments received this month represent sales taxes reported in December; but February’s allocations also account for sales reported quarterly by some businesses – October, November and December 2013 sales.
This month, Kyle has received $492,820 in sales tax collections, while Buda took in $447,004.
Kyle’s total collections in the first two months this year is $827,650 – 13.92 percent more than the same reporting period in 2013. Buda has taken in $849,076 so far this year, a 10.79 percent jump from what it received in the first two months of 2013.
The state comptroller’s office has returned about $21,400 more to Buda in sales tax collections this year, than it has to Kyle.
Hays County’s largest city, San Marcos, received $2.77 million in sales tax collections this month, by far taking in more revenue than any other city in the county. The city’s allocation this month marks an 8.2 percent increase over its February 2013 receipt. So far this year, San Marcos has received $4.89 million in sales tax revenues.
Dripping Springs saw a double-digit revenue jump this month, taking in $152,758 in sales tax collections this month, a 24.17 percent jump over the $123,019 it received in the same month last year.
So far this year, Dripping Springs has received $261,459 – 16 percent more than during the same reporting period last year.
Wimberley collected $83,078 in sales tax revenues this month. The town has collected $125,469 so far this year, putting it at an over four percent rise when compared to its payments-to-date in 2013.
Hays County, who levies a half-percent sales tax on all sales within its boundaries, collected $1.49 million in sales tax revenues this month an 8.3 percent jump over its February 2013 collection. So far this year, Hays County has collected $2.65 million.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said in a statement that increases were seen across all major sectors of the state’s economy.
“This indicates continued expansion in both consumer and business spending, and brings the growth in fiscal year-to-date collections to 4.6 percent compared with the previous year,” she wrote.
State sales tax revenues have increased for 46 consecutive months.
