Sales tax returns in Wharton 'soft' for past few months
By CHRIS BARBEE cbarbee@journal-spectator.com

Wharton historically has solid returns of local sales tax rebates from the State Comptroller's office, but the past few months have been soft.

April sales tax allocations of $281 million from State Comptroller Susan Combs to Texas cities are up 3.2 percent compared to April 2007. Calendar year-todate, city sales tax allocations are running 6 percent higher than last year. Wharton, with a 1.5 percent local sales tax, was rebated $134,568 this month, down $8,267, or 5.78 percent from last April's $142,835.

So far this year Wharton has been rebated $604,696, a 9.04 percent decline of $60,134 compared to last year's $664,830.

Wharton's January rebate was $149,269 compared to $153,007 in January 2007, February's was $183,293 compared to $219,298 in February 2007 and the March rebate was $137,566 compared to $149,690 in March 2007.

East Bernard's 1.25 percent local sales tax netted $17,413 in April, a 15.69 percent drop of $3,241 compared to April 2007's $20,654, but the year-to-date numbers are up 3.57 percent. The city's four-month total this year is $83,032, a 3.57 percent increase of $2,867 over last year's $80,165.

East Bernard was rebated $22,570 in January compared to $16,322 in January 2007, $23,975 in February compared to $18,929 in February 2007, but had a setback in March with only $19,075 compared $24,260 in March 2007.

Wharton County, which benefits from a one-half percent local sales tax, banked $160,951 this month, a 4.51 percent gain of $6,946 over last April's $154,005. To date, the county has collected $712,734, down .73 percent, or $5,247 from last year's $717,981.

Earlier this year the county collected $180,227 in January, up over $176,045 in January 2007.