Longview Sales Tax Revenue Dip Ends Streak

LONGVIEW — Longview’s chance at a sweet 16 was not in the cards — or cash registers, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. After 15 consecutive months of increased sales tax revenue, the city posted a decrease this month. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts announced December sales tax rebates for local governments on Wednesday. December rebates result from October sales receipts. While sales tax revenue increased 8.5 percent across the board for Texas cities compared to December 2010, Longview reported a 1.4 percent loss, which amounts to more than $31,000. The city will collect $2.18 million.

The downward trend reflected through much of Gregg and Harrison counties. Only two of Gregg County’s eight cities noted a revenue increase, and Gladewater’s raise amounted to less than a half percent. In Harrison County, Hallsville and Marshall suffered losses of greater than 17 percent, as cities countywide will lose about $150,000 compared to December 2010. Despite the drop, Longview will finish calendar year 2011 with a 9.5 percent increase in sales rebates, at $30.7 million. Cities in Rusk County reported a marginal 1 percent increase, while Upshur County cities notched a collective 7 percent increase, led by East Mountain and Union Grove, where sales tax rebates more than doubled from the previous year.