Sales in Fayette County See Big Gains So Far This Year

Half way through 2025, Fayette County is seeing a strong increase in sales by local businesses.

Of the nine area counties that levy the optional local sales tax, only Austin County has seen greater growth than Fayette County.

With its payment for June, Fayette has received over $1.7 million in sales tax revenue. That up 12.1% from the same time last year.

Austin County, where Sealy is the largest town, is up an astonishing 51.2%. Even with such gain, however, it is just slightly ahead of Fayette in total revenue, at $1.8 million.

Three of the nine counties are down from last year’s numbers – Gonzales, Colorado and Lee. The other four – Bastrop, Washington, Caldwell and Burleson, are up for the year, but not by as much as Fayette County.

A local sales tax also is levied by seven cities in Fayette County. All but Ellinger, the tiniest of the seven, have seen gains so far this year.

La Grange leads the way, with over $1.3 million from sales tax in the six months, January to June. That’s more than double the second city, Schulenburg, which has collected $671,522 in six month.

La Grange’s growth, however, is relatively small. It’s up 2.3% from the same period last year. All the smaller cities but Ellinger have had greater percentage growth.

Fayetteville has grown the most, up 33.8% from last year. It’s taken in just over $85,000 so far. The same period in 2023, however, Fayetteville had $141,373.

Schulenburg, the second largest city, is up 5.5% from last year. It also, however, is down from 2023, when it had received $745,930 at this point.

Round Top has moved up to third in the county. It has taken in just over $300,000 in six months, up 15.3% from last year.

Flatonia is up 6.9% for the year and Carmine is up0 8.0%.

Around the region, Bastrop remains the largest retail trade center. That city has received just under $6 million in sales tax so far this year. Brenham has received $5.3 million.

Among the 25 area towns tracked by the Record, all but four have seen gains so far in 2025. On a percentage basis, Bellville in Austin County is up the most at 17.0%. Sealy, also in Austin County, is up 16.8%.

Statewide, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar sent $1.2 billion to local governments in June as their share of retail sales taxes collected. That was 4.7% more than was allocated for June last year.