Fayette Leads Region In Economic Growth

Business in Schulenburg Sets the Pace for County

Sales tax revenue continues to soar for counties in this area, but Fayette County is flying higher than all the rest.

Of the nine area counties that levy the optional local sales tax, all but one are seeing double-digit gains compared to this time last year. Six of the nine are up by more than 20%. Two of the six are up by more than 30%.

Fayette County leads the list, with a 34.1% increase for the first seven months of 2022. Within Fayette County, Schulenburg seems to be the epicenter of sales growth.

Not only is Schulenburg up 32.2% through July, but its July payment alone is up 33.5%.

The higher sales tax receipts not only means that local businesses are selling more, but also that local governments have more money in their treasuries. These numbers will likely impact the city and county budgets that must be drawn up a few months from now.

Fayette County has received $l,723,154 in sales tax revenue this year, up nearly half a million dollars from $1,284,670 at this point last year.

La Grange is up 13.2% so far in 2022. With its July payment from State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, the city has received $1,455,937 this year. That compares to $1,285,780 a year ago, meaning nearly $200,000 more for the city treasury.

Among the 25 cities tracked by the Record, La Grange ranks seventh in sales tax revenue – just ahead of Giddings and just behind Sealy.

Schulenburg is the county’s second largest retail center. Its $709,473 in revenue puts it ahead of Bellville but behind Hallettsville.

Bastrop continues to be the area’s biggest retail center, with $6.4 million in sales tax so far this year. Brenham is second at $5.2 million.

While Schulenburg has had the greatest growth among Fayette County’s seven cities, Carmine and Round Top have had the next greatest growth. Carmine is up 23.7% for the year and Round Top up 17.8%.