April sales drag June rebate into red

The sales tax allocation for Port Aransas dove into the red by 19.31 percent, a reflection of sluggish retail sales in April.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said that statewide, city sales tax allocations were up 7 percent compared to the same time period last year.

State sales tax collections in May and local sales tax allocations in June represent sales that occurred in April and were reported to the comptroller in May.

The drop in the June allocation left the allocations for the year to date up by 0.37 percent. The city deposited a check fro $86,108.05 compared to last year's check for $106,717.97.

Corpus Christi fared better, banking a rebate check up by 2.63 percent, leaving the year to date total up by 5.56 percent.

Aransas Pass took a hit, down 5.40 percent, with rebates for the year so far up by 3.08 percent.

In Ingleside the June allocation was 2.67 percent over June a year ago, and allocations for the year to date are up by 0.31 percent.

Just north of Port Aransas, Rockport deposited a check for June's allocation that was below last year's by 3.14 percent. Rebates for the year so far are down by 1.83 percent.

On the southern coast of Texas, Port Isabel logged a rebate up 2.54 percent over the same reporting period last year, leaving rebates for the year to date up by 11.82 percent.

South Padre Island checked in with a 7.97 percent increase in its rebate, putting allocations for the year to date up by 6.70 percent.

On the northern coast of Texas, Galveston dipped below June a year ago by 5.90 percent, but rebates for the year to date are still in the black, up by 3.16 percent.

San Antonio, home of many second homeowners in, and visitors to, Port Aransas, banked a rebate up by 2.81 percent. Rebates for the year to date are up by 7.57 percent. JUNE 2007 SALES TAX ALLOCATIONS

FROM SALES MADE IN APRIL 2007

CITY % CHANGE % CHANGE YTD*

PORT ARANSAS ................................ -19.31 ............................... +0.37

CORPUS CHRISTI ................................ +2.63 ............................... +5.56

ARANSAS PASS .................................. -5.40 ............................... +3.08

INGLESIDE ......................................... +2.67 ............................... +0.31

ROCKPORT ......................................... -3.14 ................................-1.83

PORT ISABEL ..................................... +2.54 ............................. +11.82

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND ........................ +7.97 ............................... +6.70

GALVESTON ........................................ -5.90 ............................... +3.16

SAN ANTONIO .................................... +2.81 ............................... +7.57

*YEAR-TO-DATE CHANGE