(AUSTIN) - Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has reported that state sales tax revenue totaled $3.07 billion in January, which is 0.3% less than in January 2020.
But, each of the five Lamb County cities received increases for that same period, for a combined total of $190,935.08, which is compared with the the $177,339.65 they received in 2020. For the same period of 2021, the five Lamb County cities had received a combined total of $321,530.43, which is more than the $299,210.68 they had the year before.
For this period, the city of Amherst received a return of sales taxes in the amount of $3,404.36, which is a 15.57% increase over the $2,945.52 it received last year. So far, Amherst has received a total of $4,960.81, which is a 4.91% increase over the $4,728 it had by the same period of, 2020.
The city of Earth received a return of $8,428.99, which is an 18.16% increase over the $7,133.05 it got at this time last year. So far, Earth has received a total of $16,877.25 in returns for the year. That’s a 17.64% increase over the $14,346.22 it had by this time last year.
Littlefield received a return of $138,875.35 for this period, which is a 3.57% increase over the $134,076.58 it got last year. So far, Littlefield has received a total of $231,544.40 this year, which is a 2.64% increase over the $225,583.69 it had in 2020.
Littlefield’s return is divided 50% to the city, and another 50% which is divided equally between the two Economic Development Corporations.
The city of Olton received a return of $24,160.17, a 23.32% increase over the $19,590.86 it got last year. So far, Olton has received a sales tax return in the amount of $39,645.22, a 24.66% increase over last year’s $31,801.48.
The city of Sudan received $16,066.21 in sales tax returns, an 18.18% increase over the $13,593.64 it received last year. The total for Sudan, so far, is $28,502.75, a giant 25.751.10 increase over the $22.751.10 it had by this period last year.
Over in Hockley County, the city of Anton received $3,902.74 in sales tax returns, which is a 12.42% increase over the $3,741.35 it got for the same period in 2020. Currently, the city of Anton has received a total of $6,518.60, a 13.55% increase over the 2020 total of $5,740.69.
Comptroller Hegar reported: “The majority of January sales tax revenue is based on sales made in December and remitted to theagency in January.
“Statewide, the slight decline in total sales tax revenue masks starkly contrasting results among economic sectors, with strong gains in collections from retail trade offset by continued deep declines in collections from recreational services and the oil- and gas-related sectors,” Hegar said. “Stay-at-home spending trends that emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continued through the Christmas shopping season, with elevated receipts coming from online vendors, electronics and appliance stores, building materials and home furnishings stores, big box general merchandisers and sporting goods stores.
“While oil and gas well drilling activity has risen from lows reached earlier in the pandemic, the December active rotary rig count for Texas was still more than 60% lower than a year ago, depressing sales tax receipts from mining, construction, manufacturing and equipment rental and leasing businesses.
“Receipts from restaurants also remained below levels seen a year ago, while receipts from recreational services - such as live music venues, amusement parks, bowling centers and fitness clubs - remained severely depressed.”
Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in January 2020 was down 3.9% compared to the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 59% of all tax collections. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to be evident in some sources of revenue in January 2020.
Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes:
Motor vehicle sales and rental taxes - $408 million, down 13.4% from January 2020;
Motor fuel taxes - $294 million, down 4.7% from January 2020;
Oil production tax - $255 million, down 35.7% from January 2020;
Natural gas production tax $103 million, down 21.6% from January 2020;
Hotel occupancy tax- $27 million, down 35.1% from January 2020; and
Alcoholic beverage taxes - $94 million, down 27.6% from January 2020.
For details on all monthly collections, visit the Comptroller’s Monthly State Revenue Watch. For an extensive history of tax policy developments and fees since 1972, visit the recently-updated Sources of Revenue publication.