Well over $1 million a month was sent back to each entity after the state subtracted its portion.
The state’s share in 2008 was almost 6 percent more than its share in 2007.
The increases mean that at least through October 2008 sales in the county were at solid better-than-’07 levels. The state’s allocation back to cities and counties always lags two to three months from the moment the taxes were actually collected.
So, the return for December was for sales taxes collected in October.
December sales taxes will be returned in February, said David Blackburn, Temple city manager. So, it’s not yet possible to use sales tax information to describe Christmas-season sales.
The strong numbers still tell a positive story, Lee Peterson, CEO of the Temple Economic Development Corp., said.
“We’re so different from so many other areas because we have such a diverse economy here,” he said. “We have Fort Hood, strong manufacturing and distribution, strong retail plus software and other businesses … Our economy is very strong.”
Blackburn was optimistic as he looked at the numbers, noting the Central Texas economy seems not to have been hit yet by the malaise that has struck the international and national economies.
Carroll Wilson
