City, county sales tax rebates showing positive signs

The city of Graham’s and Young County’s sales tax rebates are continuing an upward trend for 2018. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar sent cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $911.9 million in local sales tax allocations for February, 6.2 percent more than in February 2017. These allocations are based on sales made in December by businesses that report tax monthly; October, November and December sales by quarterly filers; and 2017 sales by businesses that report tax annually. Sales tax rebates in Texas are recovering from declines last year related to a downturn in the oil and gas industry. It should be noted that sales taxes do not make up the bulk of a city’s revenues. Graham’s rebate this month from its 1.5 percent rate was $237,114.54, compared to the $227,958.48 rebate received during the same month last year. So far this year, the city’s rebates are up 2.5 percent, to $408,531.41, compared to $398,538.24 received at this time last year. For the rest of this story, subscribe to our print or online edition.