By Andy Sevilla
As 2014 comes to an end, Buda and Kyle will each close their calendar years with close to $5 million in total sales tax collections for the corresponding 12 months.
With December’s sales tax allocation, Buda will have accepted $4.9 million in sales tax collections in 2014, according to recently released sales tax data from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
The data also showed Kyle will close the year with $4.8 million in total annual sales tax collections for 2014.
Buda and Kyle both experienced double-digit percentage growth in their total collections this year — hiking up by 21 and 18 percent, respectively — over last year’s figures.
Both cities, and the region, continue experiencing population booms, increased demand for housing and an influx of expanding or new businesses with no slowing expected in the near future, per Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) projections.
This month, Buda took in $441,952 and Kyle received $416,690 in sales tax collections, the data showed.
December sales tax figures represent October sales reported by monthly tax filers.
Buda’s and Kyle’s sales tax collections this month grew by 27 and 30 percent, respectively, over the same month last year.
Hays County’s largest and most populous city, San Marcos, will end the 2014-year with sales tax collections exceeding $24.4 million, a 5.45 percent increase over its total collections in 2013.
This month San Marcos collected $1.87 million in sales tax receipts, the comptroller’s data showed. December’s collection was eight percent greater than the city’s collection over the same month last year.
In the eastern portions of Hays County, Niederwald and Uhland experienced significant increases in their monthly sales tax collections and annual totals when compared to the same time periods last year.
Niederwald collected $2,400 in sales tax revenue this month, an increase of nearly 40 percent over its December collection last year. For the year, Niederwald’s collections will close at $23,600, an increase of 14 percent over its total allocation last year.
Uhland took in $13,300 in revenue this month, growing by slightly more than 58 percent over its December collection last year. Uhland is closing the year with $108,000 in total sales tax collections, an increase of nearly 31 percent over its total 2013 collections.
In Hays County’s western lands, Dripping Springs experienced double-digit percentage increases in this month’s sales tax collection and in it’s total annual collection overall.
Dripping Springs collected $138,700 in sales tax revenue this month, a near 15 percent jump over its allocation last December. To close this calendar year, Dripping Springs will end up with $1.55 million in collections for the whole 12 months, comptroller records show.
Dripping Springs’ total sales tax collections this year will exceed 2013’s collections by slightly more than 12 percent.
This month, Wimberley collected $53,000 in sales tax revenue, up 9.8 percent over last December’s allocation. Wimberley will close the year with $707,000 in total sales tax revenue, up eight percent over its 2013 total.
Hays County, which collects a half-cent on every dollar spent inside its borders, will close the year with $14.3 million in its sales tax coffers. That figure represents an eight percent jump over its total 2013 sales tax revenue collection.
This month, the county received $1.17 million in sales tax revenue, 9.8 percent more than last December.
Statewide, Comptroller Susan Combs will distribute $646 million in monthly sales tax revenues to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts.
“The growth in sales tax collections was fueled by increased remittances from both business and consumer driven sectors,” Combs said in a statement. “The gains were led by oil and natural gas-related sectors, while collections from retail trade and restaurants also rose strongly.”
