For a Second Month Brownwood Sales Tax Revenue Increases

Brownwood will experience a 3.67% increase in sales tax allocations for October 2010 as compared to October 2009 which continues the upward trend of last month.  October allocations showed the first positive numbers in sales tax allocations since July.  With the Veterans’ Day holiday, cities will receive their allocations Monday, November 15th.

Although statewide numbers are up, Brown County continues to see a 3.67% decrease in sales tax revenue as compared to year-to-date numbers in 2009.  Statewide sales tax revenue in October is $1.62 billion, which showed an increase of 6.6% compared to October 2009 according to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

Combs will send Texas cities $367.2 million in sales tax allocations, up 7.2 percent compared to November 2009.  So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are down 0.2 percent compared to the same time period last year.  Texas counties will receive November sales tax allocations of $32.2 million, up 14.2 percent compared to one year ago.  For the calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are running 2.2 percent below 2009 revenues.

Although year to date sales tax allocations remain at -3.67% overall for Brown County, the monthly tax revenue numbers are showing a slight increase of 2.65%.  Brownwood and Bangs were showing positive numbers in October as compared to the revenues seen in October 2009, while Early and Blanket continue to show slight decreases.

The Brownwood and Early Chambers of Commerce want to remind area residents that they can make a difference in keeping the local economy strong by spending their shopping dollars at home by launching a holiday shop-at-home campaign called “Keep the Home Fires Burning”.   The campaign is designed to raise awareness of the importance of keeping local dollars local and how it affects public services, local business, jobs, and community activities.

“Each time you make a local purchase, you support local jobs,” said Laura Terhune, Director for the Brownwood Chamber.  “During tougher times like these, spending those dollars at home makes an even greater impact on the local economy.”

See local sales tax number below.  The sales tax figures represent sales that occurred in October.