By Mary Alys Cherry
The Bay Area Houston economy just keeps improving each month with home sales growing, businesses expanding and spending on the upswing all around the area and across the state.
That has resulted in the collection of $2.41 billion in state sales tax revenue in November – up 2.8 percent over November 2012 – and $2.25 billion in December – up 3.9 percent over the same period last year.
Sales tax collections continued to increase with almost all Bay Area Houston cities showing an increase over last year.
“Consumer spending in retail trade contributed to the largest gains in state sales tax collections,” Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said. “Sales tax collections have increased for 45 consecutive months,” she continued, adding, “Revenue from sectors such as wholesale trade, service industries and restaurants contributed to the most recent increase.”
The sales tax rebates she distributed in December were collected in November for sales in October while January rebates were collected in December for November sales.
BRIGHT SPOTS
There were many bright spots with Baytown, Dickinson, Friendswood, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, Taylor Lake Village, Pasadena, Texas City and La Porte making big gains this October over last year.
Even officials in little Shoreacres had reason to smile as the $7,060 in rebates it received was up 11 percent over last year, and its $86,756 in rebates for the year to date was up 26 percent over 2012.
Houston, of which Clear Lake City is a part, had a more moderate increase of 4.92 per cent for the month with a 6.71 percent increase for its year to date total of $608.2 million in tax rebates.
Meanwhile, Pearland, Galveston and Clear Lake Shores showed little growth in sales for the month.
Then in November, Alvin received $483,266 in rebates – up 8.37 percent, while Baytown earned $1.156,168 – up $10.17 and Clear Lake Shores received $150,000 – up 57.44 percent from last year.
La Porte’s $545,954 November rebate total was up 31.53 percent over last year, while League City received $1,160,000 – up 10.91 over last year and Pearland received $1,940,190 – up 10.76 percent.
HOW WE DID
Monthly payments in the Bay Area, the increase are decrease for the same period last year; the year-to-date total through October in parenthesis, plus the percentage increase or decrease follow:
Alvin — $486,925, 4.87; ($6,030,205) 5.35;
Baytown — $1,196,354, 7.21; ($14,518,442) 5.46;
Clear Lake Shores — $147,160, -15.08; ($1,714,131) 0.97;
Deer Park — $443,626, 4.05; ($5,037,564) 7.20;
Dickinson — $656,690,180, 39.55; ($6,742,898) 33.55;
El Lago — $10,800, 6.46; ($127,474) 8.87;
Friendswood — $335,710, 13.41; ($4,303,251) 10.30;
Galveston — $1,291,651, 2.52; ($17,931,699) 2.51;
Houston — $48,830,150, 4.92; ($608,189,684) 6.71;
Kemah — $255,608, 7.69; ($3,348,526) 5.05;
La Porte — $724,622, 15.34; ($7,228,766) 3.69;
League City — $1,164,440, 7.68; ($14,681,939) 2.15;
Nassau Bay — $88,502, 33.45; ($883,881) 2.44;
Pasadena — $2,518,129, 17.98; ($28,217,241) 8.25;
Pearland — $1,879,591, 2.73; ($23,664,262) 5.86;
Seabrook — $177,578, 10.28; ($2,255,468) 5.77;
Taylor Lake Village — $8,408, 11.64; ($116,669) 26.73;
Texas City — $1,601,562, 12.37; ($18,258,119) 11.92;
Webster — $1,250,619, 4.49; ($14,342,118) 0.83.
