Published: July 16, 2008 09:34 pm      

Sales tax keeps pace

Lackluster July sales tax checks returned to local collecting entities put the group of 16 down by a combined 3.38 percent for the month, but the combined year-to-date total is still remaining at, or above, last year’s pace.

That’s according to a recent report released by the Texas Office of the Comptroller on its Web site.

The City of Corsicana and Navarro County — No. 1 and 2 in the county, respectively, in collecting the sales tax — each posted declines of more than 3 percent in July. Corsicana was down 3.9 percent for the month, while the county slid 3.25 percent.

But Corsicana’s $2.9 million total so far in 2008 is up about a half-percentage point and Navarro County’s $1.04 million is ahead of last year by more than 1.1 percent.

In light of soaring gasoline prices, holding steady is good news. But, coupled with the fact that July’s checks to the collecting entities reflect sales in collections in May and reported in June, the latest comptroller’s office report may well be an offshoot of those gasoline prices hitting full force on area pocketbooks.

June’s report saw a 7.68 percent compared to the same, 2007 month and brought the 2008 year-to-date total about 1.5 percent ahead of the previous year’s pace.

The latest report cuts that increase back.

Next month’s sales tax numbers are expected to be released Friday, Aug. 8.

Other area sales tax numbers of note:

• Angus posted a 14 percent increase in July but remains 6.25 percent behind last year’s pace after the first seven months of the year.

• Kerens’ 10.48 percent increase in the latest report helps keep its 2008 pace up by more than 13 percent. Kerens is No. 3 of the 16 entities collecting the sales tax.

• Blooming Grove is up 17.64 percent for the year, but saw a slide of 10.69 percent for July’s return.

• Rice slid 28.82 percent, but that city remains 3.33 percent ahead of 2007’s year-to-date total.

—————

Loyd Cook may be reached via e-mail at lcook@corsicanadailysun.com