While Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced that the state collected $1.78 billion in sales tax revenue last month, a tenth of one percent increase compared to May 2009, only Bishop saw an increase in this area over last year while Kingsville and Driscoll recorded a big drop compared to the same period last year.

Bishop received $15,394.07 in city sales tax revenue this month compared to $14,564.75 last June for an increase of 5.69 percent.

Year-to-date collections stand at $83,898.05 compared to $88,636.03 last year for a drop of 5.34 percent com-

Sales Tax pared to the same period last year.

Kingsville received $274,930.97 in salex tax revenue this month compared to $322,795.57 last June for a decline of 14.82 percent.

Year-to-date revenue is at $1,846,726.33 compared to $1,958,002.37 for the same period last year for a drop of 5.68 percent.

The City of Driscoll received $2,767.18 for June compared to $3,229.32 last June, which is a decline of 14.31 percent, while year-to-date revenue of $18,279.16 is down 9.6 percent compared to the $20,220.53 received for the same period last year.

Mean while, Kleberg County received $100,978.36 in June compared to $117,228.27 last year for a drop of 13.86 percent.

Year-to-date revenue stands at $680,474.57 compared to $716,713.41 last year for a drop of 5.05 percent.

While the numbers were not as optimistic here, Combs said, “Total sales tax collections have met or exceeded year ago levels for a second month in a row, following 14 months of decline.” Combs said she feels that the bottom has been reached.”

May sales tax collections from retail trade, oil and gas, and restaurant activity outpaced those of May 2009, she said, although remittances from other sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, fell below last year.

While overall economic conditions and sales tax revenues appear to be stabilizing, there remains a risk of further deterioration, before a sustained recovery is underway.”

So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are down 4 percent compared to the same time period last year. Texas counties will receive sales tax payments of $26.7 million, up 1 percent compared to last June. So far this year, sales tax allocations to counties are down 7.9 percent compared to 2009. TAMUK preparing for Alex