NEWS
State sales tax revenue totaled $3.6 billion
| (AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.57 billion in March, 5.9 percent more than in March 2022. The majority of March sales tax revenue is based on sales made in February and remitted to the agency in March.“In line with our biennial revenue forecast, state sales tax collections resumed the recent trend of significant but slowing growth, with the gain compared with the previous year being the lowest since the end of pandemic restrictions two years ago,” Hegar said. “Growth in tax receipts was evident across all major sectors, with the exception of retail trade, as consumers reallocate budgets away from goods in favor of services as inflation continues to impact shoppers.“Receipts from the oil and gas mining sector led the way for all sectors, showing nearly a 50 percent gain for the third straight month. Remittances from the construction sector were up by double digits compared with last March, and receipts from the wholesale trade sector showed gains compared with a year ago, indicating business spending is still very strong in the state.“Remittances from the retail trade sector were negative compared with the same month the previous year for the first time since April 2022. Within the sector, general merchandise receipts were down the most compared with last year. Remittances from the sale of building materials declined for the third consecutive month, as the pace of home improvements and remodeling projects that saw enormous increases at the height of the pandemic decidedly slowed. Receipts from clothing and accessory stores were down moderately.“Restaurant receipts were up considerably for the second month in a row compared with a year ago, outpacing the inflation rate for food away from home by nearly 50 percent.” Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in March 2023 was up 8.7 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 56 percent of all tax collections. Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes: motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $432 million, up 12 percent from March 2022; motor fuel taxes — $287 million, up 4 percent from March 2022; oil production tax — $427 million, down 10 percent from March 2022; natural gas production tax — $267 million, down 23 percent from March 2022; hotel occupancy tax — $61 million, up 21 percent from March 2022; and alcoholic beverage taxes — $138 million, up 11 percent from March 2022.For details on all monthly collections, visit the Comptroller’s Monthly State Revenue Watch. For an extensive history of tax policy developments and fees since 1972, visit our updated Sources of Revenue publication. |
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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