State sale tax collections up 2.2%, County down 17%, Buffalo down 25%

(AUSTIN)—Texas Comptroller Susan Combs today announced that state sales tax revenue in June totaled $1.61 billion, a 2.2 percent increase compared to June 2009.

“Total sales tax collections have now slightly ex- ceeded year-ago levels for a third consecutive month,” Combs said. “Net collections in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors expanded, but collections from the allimportant retail sector were down from the year-ago level. While overall economic activity is no longer contracting, a resumption of solid growth in sales tax collections is not yet in evidence.”

On July 12, Combs will send July sales tax allocations totaling $442.8 Million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 3.8 percent compared to July 2009.

Texas cities will receive $297.2 Million, up 4.5 percent compared to July 2009. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are still down 2.9 percent compared to the same time period last year. Texas counties can anticipate sales tax payments of $27 Million, up 3.9 percent compared to last July. So far this year, sales tax allocations to counties are down 6.4 percent compared to this point in 2009.

Combs will send $18.3 Million to 170 special purpose taxing districts, up 10.6 percent compared to last July. Ten local transit systems will get $100.1 Million in sales tax allocations, up 0.5 percent compared to a year ago.

State sales tax revenue in June and local sales tax allocations in July represent sales that occurred in May.