June sales put August rebate in black

The sales tax allocation for Port Aransas eased out of the red and into the black with a check from Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

"Growth in sales tax collections eased in July, but moved ahead at a steady pace," Combs said. "In particular, receipts from the mining, construction, manufacturing, and service sectors reflect a Texas economy resisting the cooling seen in the national economy."

Combs sent sales tax payments of $364 million to Texas cities, up 4.1 percent compared to last August. Calendar year to date, city sales tax revenues are surpassing 2006 by 6.9 percent.

The allocation to the City of Port Aransas was up by 5.33 percent over the same reporting period last year, and for the year to date, allocations are up by 1.74 percent. This period's check was for $154,867.49 compared to the check received August a year ago for $147,025.66.

Corpus Christi banked an allocation check up by 9.62 percent for the period, leaving allocations up for the year by 5.89 percent.

Across the ship channel from Port Aransas, the City of Aransas Pass received an 8.94 percent increase in its monthly allocation, putting combined allocations for the year up by 6.46 percent.

In Ingleside, the allocation increased by 6.27 percent for the period, and 5.78 percent for the year to date.

Just up the coast, Rockport dipped into red ink, down for the reporting period by 2.82 percent, and down for the year by 1.68 percent.

On the southern coast of Texas, Port Isabel reported a 13.24 percent increase in its monthly allocation, leaving the year to date increase at 12.41 percent.

South Padre Island logged a 11.17 percent increase for the month, up by 7.42 percent for the year.

On the northern Texas coast. Galveston checked in with a 5.75 percent increase in the monthly allocation, up 3.25 percent for the year.

San Antonio, which funnels many visitors to Port Aransas where many are second homeowners, reported a 6.47 percent increase for the reporting period, and an increase of 7.67 percent for the year to date.

July state sales tax revenue and August allocations to local governments represent sales taxes collected in June by businesses that report sales taxes monthly, and sales taxes collected in April, May and June by quarterly filers.

AUGUST 2007 SALES TAX ALLOCATIONS FROM SALES MADE IN JUNE 2007

CITY ........................... % CHANGE ..... % YTD*
PORT ARANSAS .... +5.33 ...+1.74
CORPUS CHRISTI ... +9.62 ...+5.89
ARANSAS PASS .... +8.94 ...+6.46
INGLESIDE ............ +6.27 ...+5.78
ROCKPORT ............ -2.82 ....-1.68
PORT ISABEL ...... +13.24 .+12.41
SO. PADRE ISL. .. +11.17 ...+7.42
GALVESTON .......... +5.75 ...+3.25
SAN ANTONIO ....... +6.47 ...+7.67
*YEAR-TO-DATE CHANGE