Posted 1:34 am Friday, February 10, 2012
Tyler Sales Tax Revenues Decline For Second Month
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Tyler had another surprise in sales tax revenues after the Texas State Comptroller reported local figures declined for a second straight month, prompting officials on Thursday to implement a soft hiring freeze.
City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for February decreased 1.01 percent as compared to February 2011, resulting in a .95 percent cumulative year-to-date increase, records show.
The reported revenue of roughly $3.8 million is comprised of about $2.5 million in general sales tax revenue and $1.2 million in half-cent sales tax revenue, officials said.
The figures represent receipts from December 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag in reporting and remittance to the city from the state, records show.
City Manager Mark McDaniel called the development “disappointing.”
Staff Writer
Tyler had another surprise in sales tax revenues after the Texas State Comptroller reported local figures declined for a second straight month, prompting officials on Thursday to implement a soft hiring freeze.
City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for February decreased 1.01 percent as compared to February 2011, resulting in a .95 percent cumulative year-to-date increase, records show.
The reported revenue of roughly $3.8 million is comprised of about $2.5 million in general sales tax revenue and $1.2 million in half-cent sales tax revenue, officials said.
The figures represent receipts from December 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag in reporting and remittance to the city from the state, records show.
City Manager Mark McDaniel called the development “disappointing.”
“We are taking a close look at the situation to determine the factors that may be causing the decline,” he said. “We have implemented a soft hiring freeze as a precautionary measure to ensure we are keeping our expenses in balance with current revenues and are scrutinizing spending closely. In addition, we will continue the postponement of any employee pay adjustments until such time that the revenues reach the three percent level we had committed to in our annual budget.”
While the city is in the soft hiring freeze, positions will be filled as needed and only after careful review, External Relations Director Susan Guthrie said.
There was good news at the state level, records show.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said this week state sales tax revenue in January amounted to $2 billion, up 9.5 percent compared to the previous year.
While the city is in the soft hiring freeze, positions will be filled as needed and only after careful review, External Relations Director Susan Guthrie said.
There was good news at the state level, records show.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said this week state sales tax revenue in January amounted to $2 billion, up 9.5 percent compared to the previous year.
“Sales tax revenue continues to grow in almost all major economic categories and revenue has now increased for 22 consecutive months,” Ms. Combs said in a prepared statement. “The recent monthly increase was led by the oil and natural gas-related sectors. Restaurants and services sectors also showed significant gains.”
The comptroller’s office plans to send local sales tax allocations of $708.5 million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 8.2 percent compared to last February.
Those figures represent December collections.
City of Tyler employees learned last month their anticipated pay increases weren’t coming after the Texas Comptroller reported sales tax revenues deposited for January decreased 0.8 percent compared to January 2011, resulting in a 1.66 percent cumulative year-to-date increase.
The reported revenue of about $2.6 million is comprised of $1.7 million in general sales tax revenue and $896,230 half-cent sales tax revenue. Those amounts represent November collections.
In December, Tyler enjoyed a 5.34 percent increase, as compared to December 2010, representing a 2.46 percent cumulative year-to-date increase, officials said.
The reported $2.5 million in revenue was comprised of about $1.6 million in general sales tax revenue and $846,234 half-cent sales tax revenue.
At the state level, Ms. Combs reported December sales tax revenue was $1.98 billion, up 9.5 percent compared to December 2010. About $495 million was distributed to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 9.1 percent compared to January 2011.
In November, Tyler’s sales tax figures reflected a 1.6 percent increase over the previous month and a 1.28 percent increase compared to the previous year, records show.
The reported revenue of $3.2 million was comprised of about $2.2 million in general sales tax revenue and $1 million in half-cent sales tax revenue; whereas, a year earlier, the reported revenue was $3.1 million.
State sales tax revenue in November was $2.07 billion, up 12.2 percent compared to November 2010. The $478.3 million in sales tax allocations was up 9.7 percent compared to the previous year.
Tyler revenues deposited for October showed a 1.3 percent increase compared to the same time a year ago, resulting in a 1.3 percent year-to-date increase, according to the state comptroller.
The reported revenue of roughly $2.7 million is comprised of about $1.8 million in general sales tax revenue and $914,526 half-cent sales tax revenue.
Ms. Combs said state sales tax revenue in October was $1.87 billion, up 15.9 percent compared to October 2010. The $580.1 million in allocations represented a 7.1 percent increase over the previous year.
The comptroller’s office plans to send local sales tax allocations of $708.5 million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 8.2 percent compared to last February.
Those figures represent December collections.
City of Tyler employees learned last month their anticipated pay increases weren’t coming after the Texas Comptroller reported sales tax revenues deposited for January decreased 0.8 percent compared to January 2011, resulting in a 1.66 percent cumulative year-to-date increase.
The reported revenue of about $2.6 million is comprised of $1.7 million in general sales tax revenue and $896,230 half-cent sales tax revenue. Those amounts represent November collections.
In December, Tyler enjoyed a 5.34 percent increase, as compared to December 2010, representing a 2.46 percent cumulative year-to-date increase, officials said.
The reported $2.5 million in revenue was comprised of about $1.6 million in general sales tax revenue and $846,234 half-cent sales tax revenue.
At the state level, Ms. Combs reported December sales tax revenue was $1.98 billion, up 9.5 percent compared to December 2010. About $495 million was distributed to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 9.1 percent compared to January 2011.
In November, Tyler’s sales tax figures reflected a 1.6 percent increase over the previous month and a 1.28 percent increase compared to the previous year, records show.
The reported revenue of $3.2 million was comprised of about $2.2 million in general sales tax revenue and $1 million in half-cent sales tax revenue; whereas, a year earlier, the reported revenue was $3.1 million.
State sales tax revenue in November was $2.07 billion, up 12.2 percent compared to November 2010. The $478.3 million in sales tax allocations was up 9.7 percent compared to the previous year.
Tyler revenues deposited for October showed a 1.3 percent increase compared to the same time a year ago, resulting in a 1.3 percent year-to-date increase, according to the state comptroller.
The reported revenue of roughly $2.7 million is comprised of about $1.8 million in general sales tax revenue and $914,526 half-cent sales tax revenue.
Ms. Combs said state sales tax revenue in October was $1.87 billion, up 15.9 percent compared to October 2010. The $580.1 million in allocations represented a 7.1 percent increase over the previous year.
