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November sales tax returns to local cities reflected quite hefty gains for most. Kempner earned the highest percentage increase this month at 54%. DISPATCH RECORD GRAPHIC
While the November sales tax allocations to cities, counties and special-purpose districts across the state reflected an average 5% rise, payments to many Central Texas entities showed a significantly higher rate of increase.
Lampasas earned a sales tax rebate of $200,033 this month, or 19% above its November 2019 allocation.
The city has posted double-digit percentage gains each month this year, except for March and April – when the rebate had just a 3% rise – and in June, when the increase was 9%.
November payments are based on sales taxes collected in September by businesses that report their tax monthly, plus sales made in July, August and September by quarterly filers.
Through 11 months of 2020, Lampasas maintains a 13% revenue increase over last year for the comparable period.
Kempner recorded the highest percentage gain this month of any city in the surrounding counties. Its November check for $10,695 meant a jump of 54% for the month. That puts Kempner 11% ahead of 2019 receipts.
In Lometa, sales tax receipts rose 13% in November. The city struggled with its sales activity in the early months of 2020, but the pace has picked up markedly since May. Lometa shows a current-year sales tax total of $76,641, putting it 6% ahead of 2019 with one month remaining.
Lampasas County posted a 28% increase in sales tax payments this period. Through 11 months, the county’s half-percent sales tax levy has amounted to $956,947 – up 19% for the year.
Cities in Burnet County and Coryell County also recorded strong economic gains in November.
The city of Burnet collected $288,073 this period for a 35% gain, and Marble Falls garnered a check of $930,852 for a 15% gain.
Copperas Cove had a November payment of $560,855, which represents a 20% increase in sales taxes, while Gatesville’s rebate was up 13% for the month at $203,794.
San Saba also showed a sizable gain in November at 23%. With a check this period for $50,637, San Saba boasts an 11-month total of $476,130 to put its sales taxes for the year 9% ahead of 2019.
In Mills County, Goldthwaite had a much smaller percentage increase for the month at 3%. Its annual gain over last year sits at 4%, with accumulated revenues totaling $444,048 for 2020.
The city of Hamilton similarly posted a 3% gain in sales taxes for November. Its current-year total of $628,888 is 2% more than what Hamilton collected over the comparable period last year.
Evant was the only area city to record a decline this month. Its November sales tax payment was down 24%. That decline, however, is the first one of the year for Evant. Its sales tax revenues for 2020 are running 22% ahead of the 2019 allocations, with $48,523 collected thus far.