The city of Kempner once again posted the highest percentage sales tax gain among entities in the six-county area surrounding Lampasas. In July, Kempner’s local tax rebate was up 18 percent over the comparable period in 2009.

Its payment this month of $13,731 brings the year-to-date total to $77,654 for the city, which represents a 21 percent jump for 2010.

Kempner also recorded the top percentage increase in the area for the months of February, March, May and June. The two months it didn’t take the honor -- January and April -- Lometa garnered the distinction.

This period, however, saw Lometa at the other end of the spectrum with the largest percentage decline among area cities. With a July payment of $3,129, Lometa fell short of July 2009 receipts by 30 percent, and its 2010 total is 2 percent or $750 shy of sales tax collections last year through seven months.

The city of Lampasas also recorded a drop in sales taxes this period, as its $101,200 rebate was down almost 4 percent from the July 2009 payment. It maintains a 1 percent edge over last year with an accumulated 2010 mark of $737,305.

And for the first time this year, Lampasas County sales tax revenues were down, albeit slightly. July’s check of $48,505 for the half-percent sales tax levy charged by the county was $137 less than Lampasas County received a year ago, for a 0.5 percent decrease. Even with the dip this month, the county is running 6 percent ahead of 2009 sales tax receipts with a seven-month total of $351,779.

July rebates are based on local sales that occurred in May.

Burnet County cities moved in opposite directions this month in terms of sales tax collections. The city of Burnet posted a 10 percent gain, while Marble Falls had an 11 percent decline. Marble Falls has recorded only one month of sales tax gains this year -- it came in May -- whereas Burnet has seen its payments increase every month except January and Continued from page 1 April.

Coryell County cities and Hamilton County entities all posted gains in July, and all except the city of Hamilton show growth over 2009 sales tax receipts to date. Although Hamilton was up 3 percent for the month, its year-to-date total of $236,312 is 3 percent less than it garnered through July of last year.

Evant recorded an 11 percent increase this period and shows a 7 percent increase for 2010 with total sales tax revenues of $13,693.

Copperas Cove had its highest gain of the year in July, when the sales tax rebate rose 16 percent. Through the first seven months of 2010, it holds $2.12 million, up 6 percent from the sales tax rebates of last year.

Growth in Gatesville has been smaller this year, but the city remains 3 percent ahead of 2009. Its sales taxes to date stand at $928,211.

For Goldthwaite and San Saba, the July sales tax returns were negative. Goldthwaite’s monthly check of $20,050 represents a decline of 9 percent, although it has a 3 percent edge over 2009 in total revenues.

San Saba recorded a 3 percent drop this month, and the city has struggled all year to achieve the sales tax numbers it posted in 2009. Through July, San Saba’s total of $187,552 is within 1 percent of the $188,886 it garnered through this point last year.

In releasing the July sales tax statistics, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs commented on the slight gains recorded across the state.

“While overall economic activity is no longer contracting,” she said, “a resumption of solid growth in sales tax collections is not yet in evidence.”