Teamwork pays dividends in city

Brenda Brown

bbrown@casscountynow.com

Atlanta’s sales tax allocation check in February saw a healthy increase, and the city manager attributes the boost to the fact that local organizations are working together to bring new business to town.

The city’s sales rebate increased 18.65 percent from the same time last year. Atlanta received a check from the comptroller’s office for $208,876. In 2012, the city’s sales tax allocation was $176,041. Atlanta’s sales tax rate is 2 percent.

Since January, the city has received $371,144 from the comptroller’s office, an 18 percent increase from last year’s to-date total of $313,941.

"We’re very pleased with the progress we’re making," said City Manager David Cockrell. "We’ve tried to do a lot of work recruiting new businesses to town and new businesses mean new sales taxes. We are seeing more and more people coming here for a variety of reasons and they are spending money."

However, he noted February’s sales tax numbers are based on Christmas sales and "one month can never tell a story. We’re pleased with this number but we still have a lot of work to do."

Cockrell added he believes after three years the area is making a strong comeback from the recession and regaining momentum after the loss of Anthony Forest Products, which burned and will not be rebuilt.

He said directors of the city’s two economic development corporations and the chamber of commerce have been working together with common goals of bringing more businesses and industry to the area.

"We’ve got a lot more cars downtown, new businesses and new buildings. Things seem to be looking up," Cockrell said. "We have two prime goals: we want to have people looking for parking spots and we want to have a policeman directing traffic in and out of the business park.

"Simply put, between us, the city development corporations and the chamber of commerce, we have all three components moving in the same direction, so we can’t help but succeed."

Several other towns within the county saw increased sales tax allocations in February. The total tax rebates this month amount to $306,276.65, up 14.09 percent from last February’s total allocation of $268,441.77 for Cass County towns.

The sales tax figures represent December sales reported by monthly tax filers and sales by businesses that report tax on a quarterly or annual basis.

Queen City’s tax allocation is up 17 percent, from $23,156 in February 2012 to $27,189 this month. The city’s sales tax rate is 1.75 percent. To date Queen City has received $43,976, up 5 percent from last February’s rebate of $41,640.

Linden’s allocation for $30,096 in February is down a fraction, .48 percent, from the $30,243 received this time last year. Linden’s sales tax rate is 2 percent. To date the city has received $53,510, up 5 percent from the 2012 to-date check for $50,899.

Domino’s sales tax rebate increased this month. The city received a check for $3,956, up 5 percent from last February’s tax allocation check for $3,748. Domino’s sales tax rate is 2 percent. So far this year the city has received $10,432, down 3 percent from last year’s total of $10,799.

Bloomburg’s sales tax rebate check for $2,467 reflects a 15 percent decrease from the $2,906 received last February. The city’s sales tax rate is 1 percent. In 2013 Bloomburg’s sales tax allocations total $3,824, up 1 percent from 2012’s $3,781.

Douglassville’s sales tax rebate check this month is $170, a 19 percent decrease from last February’s rebate of $210. The city’s sales tax rate is .25 percent. To date the city has received $543, up 25 percent compared to last year’s total of $434.

Hughes Springs received a sales tax rebate for $29,365, up 3 percent from February 2012’s rebate of $28,437. The city’s sales tax rate is 1.5 percent. So far in 2013 the city has received $48,917, up .8 percent when compared to last year’s to-date total of $48,527.

Avinger’s check in February is $4,157, up 12 percent from the $3,700 earned during the same reporting period last year. Avinger’s sales tax rate is 1.5 percent. To date the city has received $7,526, up 43 percent from last year’s to-date total of $5,253.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs sent cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts their February local sales tax allocations totaling $741 million, up 4.6 percent compared to February 2012.

Combs said state sales tax revenue in January was $2.12 billion, up 6.1 percent compared to January 2012.

"Growth in sales tax receipts was led by the construction, retail trade and restaurant sectors," said Combs. "Receipts from oil and natural gas-related activity also continue to be strong.  State sales tax revenue has now increased for 34 consecutive months."

The comptroller’s office reports Texas cities received local sales tax allocations of $486.9 million, up3.6 percent from February 2012. Counties received $48.9 million, up 10.9 percent from last February. Cass County does not levy a sales tax in its unincorporated areas.

Transit systems received $167.7million, up 4.3 percent; and special purpose taxing districts earned $37.5 million, up 12 percent from last year.

For details of local sales tax allocations in February to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.