Dublin sales tax rebounded in December, as collections were more than 16% higher in Dec. 2020 than Dec. 2019.
This followed the only month in 2020 in which Dublin had collected less than the same period in 2019. (Collections were 5% less in Nov. 2020 than 2019.)
Every over month for 2020 has yield higher sales for the Irish Capital of Texas with many getting into double digit percentages.
These higher sales have been attributed throughout 2020 to an increase in businesses downtown and more reported shopping for groceries and home improvement/construction supplies in town.
Neighboring smaller town who had been experiencing similar boons also reported lower sales for the month of November with Comanche and Hamilton also ending December in the black. Stephenville continued to experience growth in sales tax receipts at the end of 2020.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $2.86 billion in December, 5 percent less than in December 2019.
The majority of December sales tax revenue is based on sales made in November and remitted to the agency in December.
“December sales tax collections continued recent trends, with receipts from most major economic sectors significantly down from a year ago,” Hegar said. “Retail trade was the principal exception, with the strongest gains coming from online general merchandisers, building materials and home improvement stores, warehouse clubs and supercenters and sporting goods and hobby stores.
“Collections from discount retailers also were up, while collections from department stores, clothing stores and other specialty retailers generally were down. Receipts from the wholesale trade sector also were slightly up, due to strength in sales by building materials vendors. Historically low interest rates and pandemicmotivated behavior changes continue to spur a boom in single-family housing starts and home renovations.
“Receipts from restaurants, entertainment venues and personal service and tourismrelated businesses continue to be depressed. Receipts from oil- and gas-related sectors also were lower year over year as drilling activity remained subdued.”
Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in December 2020 was down 5 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 59 percent of all tax collections. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to be evident in some sources of revenue in December 2020.
Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes:
motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $439 million, up 2.7 percent from December 2019;
motor fuel taxes — $278 million, down 10.6 percent from December 2019;
oil production tax — $197 million, down 45.5 percent from December 2019;
natural gas production tax — $86 million, down 25 percent from December 2019;
hotel occupancy tax — $26 million, down 48.5 percent from December 2019; and
alcoholic beverage taxes — $84 million, down 28.5 percent from December 2019.