STAFF REPORT

Retail sales in November increased the state’s sales tax allocation to San Marcos this month by 4.28 percent compared to last year’s payment, and generated revenues of $1,730,589.60.

Hays County received $944,344.17 in sales tax revenue this month, amounting to a 7.67 percent increase compared to January 2011.

Area cities had the following results for January sales tax allocations as compared to last year:

• San Marcos — 4.28 percent increase
• Kyle — 8.49 percent increase
• Buda — 4.24 percent increase
• New Braunfels — 12.25 percent increase
• Seguin — 13.63 percent increase
• Luling — 18.60 percent increase
• Lockhart — 6.83 percent increase
• Austin — 6.20 percent increase
• Round Rock — 17.20 percent increase
• Georgetown — 4.34 percent decrease
• Bastrop — 24.55 percent increase
• Leander — 5.39 percent increase
• Cedar Park — 10.50 percent increase
• Pflugerville — 10.17 increase

Sales tax collections account for about 45.7 percent of all general fund revenue for the City of San Marcos.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced Wednesday that she will send January sales tax allocations totaling $495 million to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. This amount is 9.1 percent more than her office allocated in January 2011.

“Sales tax revenue continues to grow in almost all major economic categories and revenue has now increased for 21 consecutive months,” Combs said. “Sales taxes from retail trade and restaurant activity continue to improve, with tax revenue from the oil and natural gas sector also providing a lift to overall collections.”

Combs also announced state sales tax revenue in December was $1.98 billion, which is an increase of 9.5 percent compared to December 2010.