City sales tax revenues stay up, but not case for all of Wharton County
By CHRIS BARBEE cbarbee@leader-news.com

El Campo's local sales tax receipts during the first four months of 2008 are slightly more than half the state average increase over 2007.

While the economy across much of the nation is struggling, the same can't be said for Texas, according to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

"Since the beginning of the fiscal year in September 2007, state sales tax collections have increased 7.2 percent compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year," Combs said.

"Although the national economy is slowing, here in Texas, growth in sales tax collections remains consistent."

April sales tax allocations of $281 million to Texas cities are up 3.2 percent compared to April 2007. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are running 6 percent higher than last year.

El Campo for the first four months is up 4.03 percent over the same period in 2007, Wharton is down 9.04 percent and East Bernard is up 3.57 percent. Wharton County is down three-quarters percent.

El Campo's 1.5 percent local sales tax brought in $182,073 this month, down 2.58 percent from April 2007's $186,912. Yearto date, however, the city has received $864,897, a 4.03 percent increase of $33,558 over last year's $831,339.

El Campo began the year with a January rebate of $220,764, up $23,749 over January 2007's $197,015; February's $263,313, $17,323 more than February 2007's $245,990, and March's $198,747, down $2,675 from March 2007's $201,422.

Wharton, also with a 1.5 percent local sales tax, collected $134,568, down $8,267, or 5.78 percent, compared to last April's $142,835. So far this year Wharton has been rebated $604,696, a 9.04 percent decline of $60,134 compared to last year's $664,830.

Wharton's January rebate was $149,269 compared to $153,007 in January 2007, February's was $183,293 compared to $219,298 in February 2007 and the March rebate was $137,566 compared to $149,690 in March 2007.

East Bernard's 1.25 percent local sales tax netted $17,413 in April, a 15.69 percent drop of $3,241 compared to April 2007's $20,654, but the year-to-date numbers are up 3.57 percent. The city's four-month total is $83,032, a 3.57 percent increase of $2,867 over last year's $80,165.

East Bernard was rebated $22,570 in January compared to $16,322 in January 2007, $23,975 in February compared to $18,929 in February 2007, but joined El Campo and Wharton with a March setback of $19,075 compared $24,260 in March 2007.

Texas counties received sales tax payments of $25.9 million, up 4.4 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 6.5 percent higher than last year.

Wharton County, which benefits from a one-half percent local sales tax, banked $160,951 this month, a 4.51 percent gain of $6,946 over last April's $154,005. To date, the county has collected $712,734, down .73 percent, or $5,247 from last year's $717,981.

Earlier this year the county collected $180,227 in January, up over $176,045 in January 2007, $207,343 in February, down from $221,225 in February 2007, and $164,213 in March, down from $166,706 in March 2007.

March sales tax revenue and April payments made to local governments represent sales that occurred in February.