‘Shop Local’ effort benefits EMS, fire departments

December 16, 2010 Star-Courier News Index - Front Page 0

By BOBBY HORN JR.
CROSBY—A report issued by the Texas Comptroller’s Office shows positive growth for the local economy.
One of the factors used to determine fiscal health and the future financial health of a community is sales tax collection. A comparison of November 2010 state sales tax collection to November 2009 collection shows Crosby far exceeding the state average of an 8.7% increase.
The Harris County Emergency Services District #5 (the EMS) has a 1% sales tax. Their November collection was $1,26,598.09.
This is a 40.04% percent increase over November 2009, when revenue collected was $90,396.87. Year to date tax sales tax collection for the ESD has been $1,515,801.81, up 17.32% from 2009 figures.
The Harris County Emergency Services District 80 (fire department) also has a 1% sales tax.

They had a similar November to ESD 5. This year, their collection for the month was $131,857.04, up 43.69 % over 2009’s $91.767.16. Year to state revenue is up 13.82%from $1,301,679/14 in 2009 to $1,481,701/17 this year.
In Highlands, the ESD #14 (fire and EMS) had a November collection of $46,432.82. On April 1, 2010 a 2% sales tax went into effect for the district. Since that time, they have collected $335,589.98.
“(State) sales tax revenue has now grown for eight consecutive months compared to year ago levels, with recent gains above the five percent mark,” said State Comptroller Susan Combs. “November’s monthly gain showed growth in a range of sectors like manufacturing, the oil and natural gas industry, retail trade and restaurants.”
The Comptroller will send cities, counties, special purpose districts and transit systems $435.8 million in December sales tax allocations, up 4.5 percent compared to last December. The final sales tax allocation of 2010 brings local sales tax revenue for the year to $5.6 billion, a fraction of a percent less than in 2009.
November state sales tax collections and December sales tax allocations to local governments represent sales that occurred in October.
The next local sales tax allocation will be made on Jan. 14.