City reports sales tax revenues up 7.1 percent in July

Sales tax rebates to the City of Austin were $11.4 million in July compared to $10.7 million in July 2009, an increase of 7.1 percent, according to the city Chief Financial Officer Leslie Browder.

 

Her office reported on Thursday that current period collections for the city, as reported by the State Comptroller, are up 7.3 percent (not including possible variances like an audit or prior period adjustments.) The comptroller reported Austin’s revenues were up 8.4 percent, but Browder always adjust the numbers to account for taxes retained on utility bills

 

“On a cumulative basis for the 10 months of fiscal year 2010, our collections are up 3.0 percent compared to the same 10 months last year,” Browder wrote in a memo to Council members and other city officials. “We have projected that we will end this fiscal year at 3.0 percent growth in sales tax revenue overall.”

 

According to Browder, out of the top 20 Texas cities, seven saw declining sales tax revenue this month and two cities saw double-digit increases. All other major Texas cities experienced growth this past month, with Dallas reporting relatively flat collections. Other cities’ figures included Fort Worth, up 25.1 percent; San Antonio, up 6.2 percent; Houston up 1.4 percent, and Dallas up 0.7 percent.

 

Locally, Round Rock was down 17.0 percent for July, while San Marcos, which has a large retail base, saw an increase of 3.7 percent. Sunset Valley, also a large retail center, reported relatively flat revenue this month.  Sales tax collections in Bee Cave were up 6.8 percent and Capital Metro’s tax collection were up 3.5 percent for the month.