Published: May 13, 2008 10:21 am      

Sliding?

City sales tax rebates send mixed signals

San Marcos — Though the monthly slide in sales taxes rebated to the city of San Marcos by the State Comptroller’s Office continues, the year-to-date totals remain up over last year.

According to figures released by Comptroller Susan Combs, San Marcos’ May allocation was down .59 percent from May of 2007; though total allocations this year are still up 6.8 percent over the first five months of last year.

That dip was more than twice the .27 percent decline seen in the April allocation.

Buda, Mountain City, Uhland and Woodcreek also saw decreases this month and for the year-to-date totals.

Combs said the trend is statewide, as sales tax revenue slipped 1.8 percent compared to last April.

“This was a slight decrease compared to the dramatic growth seen in April 2007,” Combs said. “For the eight months of fiscal 2008 to date, state sales tax collections are up six percent compared to the previous year.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• San Marcos: May rebate of $1,717,419.04, down .59 percent from $1,727,757.19 in May 2007; year-to-date total $8,046.975.17, up 6.8 percent from $7,534,166.16 in 2007.

• Buda: May rebate $273,972.06, down 5.13 percent from $288,810.48 in 2007; year-to-date total $1,416,916.42, down 8.25 percent from $1,544,477.63 in 2007.

• Dripping Springs: May rebate $71,543.49, up 44.27 percent from $49,589.04 in 2007; year-to-date total $266,513.92, up 16.08 percent from $229,594.50 in 2007.

• Hays City: May rebate $1,267.89, up 51.43 percent from $837.27 in 2007; year-to-date total $6,549.57, up 74.44 percent from $3,754.45 in 2007.

• Kyle: May rebate $222,904.93, up 19.92 percent from $185,876.75 in 2007; year-to-date total $907,232.86, up 27.34 percent from $712,405.46 in 2007.

• Mountain City: May rebate $382.96, down 7.27 percent from $413.01 in 2007; year-to-date total $1,990.01, up 240.41 percent from $584.58 in 2007.

• Niederwald: May rebate $1,914.77, up 4.89 percent from $1,825.40 in 2007; year-to-date total $8,917.71, up 13.46 percent from $7,859.34 in 2007.

• Uhland: May rebate $2,250.82, down 56.54 percent from $5,179.86 in 2007; year-to-date total $12,122.09, down 27.59 percent from $16,742.18 in 2007.

• Wimberley: May rebate $63,042.68, up 11.93 percent from $56,331.10 in 2007; year-to-date total $237,604.31, up 9.13 percent from $217,723.16 in 2007.

• Woodcreek: May rebate $3,755, down 47.90 percent from $7,207.89 in 2007; year-to-date total $18,336.56, down 23.01 percent from $23819.26 in 2007.

In total, Hays County taxing entities were allocated $2,358,463.64 up 1.49 percent from $2,323,827.99 in 2007. In year-to-date totals, county entities have received $10,923,158.62, up 6.14 percent from $10,291,126.72 in 2007.

May sales tax allocations reflect March sales that were reported to the state in April by monthly tax filers and in January, February and March for those who report quarterly.

Combs said the lower numbers were expected because of the slower expansion of the Texas economy.