San Marcos — The consumer squeeze appears to have begun to be felt in San Marcos and Hays County.

The city’s monthly sales tax allocation from the State Comptroller’s Office dipped a bit for the first time in many months. San Marcos’ April rebate was $1,196,369.24, down .27 percent over the $1,199,666.23 the city was allocated last April. However, in year-to-date rebate payments, San Marcos is still in the “plus” column, running nine percent ahead of the same period during 2007. Last year the city received a total of $5,806,408.97 in rebates during the first four months of the year, compared to $6,329,556.13 this year.

April sales tax rebates to local governments reflect sales that occurred in February.

As for the rest of Hays County municipalities, it was a mixed bag, with Dripping Springs, Kyle, Mountain City, Niederwald, Uhland, Wimberley and Woodcreek posting gains, while Buda and Hays City joined San Marcos with declines.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Buda: Monthly rebate $242,991.35, down 18.44 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $1,142,944.36, down 8.97 percent from 2007’s $1,255,667.15.

• Dripping Springs: Monthly rebate $46,750.54, up 30.63 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $194,970.43, up 8.31 percent from 2007’s $180,005.46.

• Hays City: Monthly rebate $649.49, down 21.36 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $5,281.68, up 81.05 percent from 2007’s $2,917.18.

• Kyle: Monthly rebate $141,719.94, up 0.82 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $684,327.93, up 29.96 percent from 2007’s $526,528.71.

• Mountain City: Monthly rebate $256.12, up 137.23 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $1,607.05, up 836.67 percent from 2007’s $171.57.

• Niederwald: Monthly rebate $1,593.81, up 6.42 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $7,002.94, up 16.05 percent from 2007’s $6,033.94.

• Uhland: Monthly rebate $3,138.28, up 137.10 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $9,871.27, down 14.62 percent from 2007’s $11,562.32.

• Wimberley: Monthly rebate $35,914.40, up 8.92 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $174,551.63, up 8.15 percent from 2007’s $161.392.06.

• Woodcreek: Monthly rebate $3,073.49, up 11.38 percent from last April. Year-to-date payments total $14,581.56, down 12.21 percent from 2007’s $16,611.37.

In total, Hays taxing entities received $1,672,456.66 in monthly rebates.

averaging a loss of 2.39 percent from last April. In year-to-date payments, the total was $8,564,694.98, up 7.49 percent from 2007.

In all, Comptroller Susan Combs sent $419 million to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. That represents an increase of 3.7 percent compared to April 2007.

Buda, Kyle and San Marcos all have tax rates of 1.5 percent. Dripping Springs has a tax rate of 1.25 percent. Hays City, Mountain City, Niederwald, Uhland, Wimberley and Woodcreek all have tax rates of 1 percent.