Austin, Round Rock sales taxes continue slide

Figures just released by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs show that Austin’s sales tax revenues fell 7.19 percent for November. But Round Rock saw the steepest decline in the state, falling 19.25 percent compared with November 2007. Combs announced the numbers as the state released its first sales tax allocations of 2009.

 

Overall, sales tax remittances to the cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts rose 2.4 percent compared to January 2008, according to Combs. Dallas, Houston and Midland were among the cities showing the biggest growth spurts. Midland fared best among the top 20 Texas cities, with a jump of 11.71 percent.

 

The state fared somewhat better with its sales tax collections growing 3.9 percent for the first four months of state fiscal year 2009, Combs said.  “Growth in overall collections has slowed compared to recent years, while remittances from key sectors such as construction and retail trade have declined,” according to a release from her office.