Tax revenue up; cities to get funds

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts will receive $417.6 million in April sales tax allocations, a 6 percent increase, compared to April 2010. So far in 2011, monthly sales tax allocations to local governments are up 7.5 percent compared to a year ago.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said Wednesday the state’s sales revenue in March was $1.6 billion, and increase of 9.9 percent, compared to March 2010.

“State sales tax revenue has now increased for 12 straight months,” said Combs. “Strong consumer and business spending helped increase revenue in large sectors of the economy such as retail, manufacturing and the oil and gas industry.”

Friday Combs will send April sales tax allocations of $279.4 million to Texas cities, up 5.2 percent compared to April 2010. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are running 6.7 percent higher than last year. Texas counties will receive sales tax payments of $26.6 million, up 11.1 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 13.2 percent higher than last year.

In addition, 173 special purpose taxing districts are getting $17.7 million in sales tax, an increase of12.8 percent compared to last April. Ten local transit systems will receive $93.7 million in sales tax rebates, up 5.7 percent compared to a year ago.

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

Visit the comptroller's website for more details about the sales tax payments .

The May sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, May 13.