July Really Hot For Sales Tax

July was another outstanding month for the city treasuries of Round Top and Fayetteville.

Still apparently enjoying the fruits of new venues and the return of big crowds to Antiques Weeks sellers, Round Top has taken in just over $285,000 so far in 2023. That pushes it for the first time ever above Flatonia in city sales tax revenue.

Fayetteville, meanwhile, has more than doubled its revenue, compared to the same time last year. Seven months into the year, Fayetteville has taken in $151,510, over twice the $70,219 it had the same period last year.

For the month of July alone, Round Top’s sales tax was 37% above last year’s figure. Year to date, Round Top is up 22.5% from a year ago, with steady gains each month.

Fayetteville has had two amazing months for sales tax revenue this year. May’s rebate fro the state was five times what it had been the prior May. And March’s rebate was just under double that of the prior March.

So far this year, Fayetteville is up 115.7% from the same period last year. It’s seven- month total of $151,510 is nearly three times what it was just three years ago.

Three of Fayette County seven towns have double-digit gains for the year. Schulenburg is up 23.0%, Round Top up 22.5% and La Grange up 10.3%.

Two others have singledigit gains – Flatonia up 9.6% and Ellinger up 7.0%. Only Carmine has suffered a drop, down 8.9% year to date.

La Grange has now received $1,605,782 in city sales tax this year. That means the city has about $150,000 more to work with than it did last year at this point.

Nine counties in this region levy the optional local sales tax. All but one of them are up from last year.

Gonzales County has the greatest gain, at 18.5%, and Caldwell County at 18.4%. But Fayette comes in at third, with 14.2% growth.

Bastrop County remains the region’s biggest retail center, resulting in $4.7 million in taxes so far this year. Washington County is second, with $2.7 million, and Fayette County third, at $1.9 million.

According to State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, his office returned $1.1 billion in local sales tax allocations in July to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts. That’s 7.5% more than sent last July.