Published: October 19, 2006 05:20 pm         

Mexia has nearly $2 million in sales tax rebates

The September sales tax rebate check, reflecting August collections, pushed the City of Mexia to near $2,000,000 in sales tax rebates for 2006. Another check is due momentarily, which will push the total impressively higher.

Mexia showed sizable increases in both major categories, both in current check weighed against one year ago, and for year-to-date figures, compared with totals in 2005.

Mexia’s September check was for $183,978.92, compared with the September 2005 check of $164,878.85. That check pushed the accummulative total for the city up to $1,840,362.16, an increase from last year’s accummulate total of $1,632,802.20.

Elsewhere in Limestone County, Groesbeck’s August retail sales results in that city’s receiving $36,330.75, up from $31,217.38 last September, and pushing the 2006 total for Groesbeck to $374,861.76, also a good increase from last year’s accummulative total of $330,752.70.

Kosse shows increases in the two main categories - $1,596.11, an increase from last year’s check of $1,068.98; and for the year, $17,082.25, over the 2005 totals of $11,488.25.

Thornton stands next in the Limestone pecking order with a September check totaling $821.50, over the $535.22 in the check at this time a year ago. Thornton is also up to $8,415.53, over the $7,194.72 which was the year’s total a year ago.

Coolidge got a check for $798.15, a 120 percent increase from the $362.67 one year ago, and is also up to $17,964.47, from last year’s to-date total of $14,504.27.

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In Freestone County, the leader is Fairfield, recipient of a September check for $122,553.45, increasing from $111,912.94 in 2005, and increasing for year-to-date with a total of $1,338,543.96, from last year’s total of $1,007,664.84.

Teague comes along with a check for $21,237.27, down from the $22,639.22 last year at this time. Teague also shows a sizable drop from $348,835.29 down to $290,885.16 in year-to-date totals for 2006.

Wortham shows increses in both chief categories - $8,597.11, increasing from $4,922.75 last year at this time, and counting $81,864.65 in year-to-date, which a year ago stood at $72,549.11.

The State of Texas collected $1.64 billion in sales taxes in August, up 10.9 percent compared to a year ago. And when the state’s 2006 fiscal year ended on Aug. 31, sales tax collections totaled $18.2 billion, 12 percent higher than fiscal year 2005.

Texas Comptroller delivered $405.4 million to local governments in September sales tax payments, reflecting a 13.2 percent increase compared to September of 2005. So far this calendar year, local sales tax allocations are up 14.7 percent compared to the same period in 2005.

Strayhorn sent September sales tax allocations of $277.6 million to Texas cities, showing a 13.5 percent increase compared to September of a year ago. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax rebates are running 14.2 percent higher than last year. Texas counties received September sales tax allocations of $24.3 million, up 18 percent compared to a year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 16.4 percent higher than last year.