— After an encouraging gain last month, sales taxes rebated to the city of San Marcos this month showed an increase of only 1.16 percent; but that’s still better than the state as a whole, figures released by Comptroller Susan Combs show.

For the first three months of the calendar year, though, San Marcos rebates are still .50 percent less than a year ago.

That means San Marcos’ March allocation is $15,375.80 more than a year ago, but the year-to-date figure represents a loss of $25,052.80.

Statewide, monthly local sales tax allocations are down 6.8 percent. For the first three months of 2010, payments are down 8.4 percent.

“After eight straight months of double digit declines, sales tax losses have begun to moderate,” Combs said in a news release, citing continuing downturns in “major sectors such as retail, oil and gas production and construction.” She did cite a “slight uptick” in manufacturing.

Sales tax revenues are particularly important for San Marcos, as they make up 48.1 percent of the city’s general fund. An additional $79,090 received in February was the first increase for the city in seven months.

Of the 10 municipal entities in Hays County, only four saw gains in their monthly check, with San Marcos’ being the smallest. Figures for the year’s first three months it was an even split, with five seeing gains and five seeing losses.

Here are the numbers:

• Buda: Monthly rebate $194,079.26, down 16.78 percent from $233,238.98 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $790,195.66, down 8.25 percent from $861,319.34 last year. Buda’s tax rate is 1.5 percent.

• Dripping Springs: Monthly rebate $52,299.91, down 6.01 percent from $55,645.63 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $186,560.76, up 2.18 percent from $182,571.39 last year. Dripping Springs’ tax rate is 1.25 percent.

• Hays City: Monthly rebate $1,056.24, up 3.24 percent from $1,023.04 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $3,079.91, up 1.82 percent from $3,024.65 last year. Hays City’s tax rate is 1 percent.

• Kyle: Monthly rebate $183,838.59, down 5.33 percent from $194,190.46 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $711,410.84, up 18.12 percent from $602,264.07 last year. Kyle’s tax rate is 1.5 percent.

• Mountain City: Monthly rebate $315.52, up 13.31 percent from $278.45 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $1,295.46, up 3.36 percent from $1,253.30 last year. Mountain City’s tax rate is 1 percent.

• Niederwald: Monthly rebate $1,449.48, down 24.73 percent from $1,925.95 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $4,817.15, down 13.87 percent from $5,592.98 last year. Niederwald’s tax rate is 1 percent.

• San Marcos: Monthly rebate $1,332.163.90, up 1.16 percent from $1,316,788.11 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $4,972,164.05, down .50 percent from $4,997,216.89 last year. San Marcos’ tax rate is 1.5 percent

• Uhland: Monthly rebate $2,627.36, down 8.97 percent from $2,886.33 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $9,388.24, up 21.39 percent from $7,733.37 last year. Uhland’s tax rate is 1.5 percent.

• Wimberley: Monthly rebate $32,569.18, down .98 percent from $32,892.70 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $143,367.47, down 14.43 percent from $167,552.91 last year, Wimberley’s tax rate is 1 percent.

• Woodcreek: Monthly rebate $2,414.69, up 38.15 percent from $1,747.83 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $8,592.44, down 4.06 percent from $8,956.32 last year. Woodcreek’s tax rate is 1 percent.

Elsewhere in Central Texas:

• New Braunfels: Monthly rebate $1,317,465.16, up 5.73 percent from $1,246,047.10 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $4,191,605.55, up .57 percent from $4,167,813.61 last year. New Braunfel’s tax rate is 1.5 percent.

• Lockhart: Monthly rebate $120,391.91, down 9.23 percent from March 2009; year-to-date total is $405,492.77 down 3.14 percent from $418,645.58 last year. Lockhart’s tax rate is 1.5 percent.

• Seguin: Monthly rebate $383,481.91, up 3.17 percent from $371.691.02 in March 2009; year-to-date total is $1,296.135.99, up 1.45 percent from $1,277,582.16 last year. Seguin’s tax rate is 1.5 percent.

March allocations represent sales that occurred in January.

For more, visit www.window.state.tx.us.