Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar says state sales tax revenue in March was up 1.5 percent compared to March 2014, as collections have now grown for 60 consecutive months. The latest figures equal $2.12 billion in statewide tax revenue. Hegar will be sending cities and counties and other taxing districts their April local sales tax allocations totaling over $576 million, which is up 4 percent.

 

In Shelby County payments are up less than a one-half percent from the same time a year ago. Center’s payment for taxes collected in March is $210,221, a slight decrease from 2014 ($210,844) as sales were somewhat flat.

 

City Manager Chad Nehring tells us as businesses and customers adapt after the local gas drilling boom period from 2010-2012, stabilizing this quickly is a positive sign after the last two years of rapid decline in taxable sales.

 

Year-to-date, sales tax checks to the city of Center have totaled just under a million dollars ($986,365), a little less than 2 percent from 2014.

 

Nehring added as the local economy stabilizes, private investment and development are growing, much of which is visible along major highways and city hall continues to focus on assisting those wanting to invest and grow their businesses in the community.

 

How important are local sales taxes to your town? Nehring said local sales tax support over a third of all city government services in Center, including police, fire and parks and 100 percent of city street renovation and construction.

 

He reiterated the message remains the same, shopping locally not only helps those businesses, but also our local economy.

 

In other county cities, Timpson’s check is down some 16.5 percent, while other cities that levy a sales tax has seen an increase, including an almost 50 percent rise in Tenaha.

 

The Shelby County year-to-date is under 2014’s by 2 percent.

 

In San Augustine County, both San Augustine and Broaddus have positive increases in current payments compared to April 2014. Broaddus is up 40.5 percent and San Augustine has just under a 6 percent rise. Year-to-date, payments are up just about 6 percent.