Sales tax continues to slid in Wimberley

The city of Wimberley saw a strong month of Sales Tax Allocations in October showing the first positive growth since June. That followed with a dip in November that neutralized the gains that had been made.

October saw a two percent growth in allocations, which represented about $1,400 increase compared to the same month last year. Allocations represent sales made two months prior meaning October’s numbers are from sales made in August.

Sales tax allocations are the city’s portion of sales tax, which is allocated by the state. The city of Wimberley receives 1 percent of all sales tax collected within the city limits. Since the city of Wimberley does not collect a property tax, sales tax allocations are the most significant portion of revenue for the city.

But in November, representing sales in September, the city saw a nearly three percent decrease, which is about $2,500. This put the city of Wimberley in the negative for the calendar year of 2018 at -.54 percent. The city has collected $837,146.99, which is about $4,500 less than the same time frame last year.

That may not sound like a lot of money for the city, but the city only collects one percent of sales taxes. That means that the total sales made within the city limits of Wimberley have dropped $450,000 compared to last year.

Once again, Wimberley is the only city in Hays County to see a drop in Sales Tax Allocations for the calendar year with every other city seeing at least 9.54 percent growth over the last 11 months compared to the same timeframe last year. In fact, the city of San Marcos has jumped 27.64 percent in sales so far this year.

The city of Woodcreek, which does not rely heavily on Sales Tax Allocations, saw a 1.62 percent jump this month, by hauling in $4,999.46. That only represents about $80 in increased allocations, but the city is up 10.29 percent on the year. On the calendar year, Woodcreek is up about $4,500 in Sales Tax Allocations.

Statewide, allocations announced by Comptroller Glenn Hegar last week were up 5.4 percent compared to a year ago. Cities saw an increase of 5.6 percent for the month in 7.9 percent year-to-date as part of a total allocation of $817 million (a figure that also includes transit systems, counties and special taxing districts).

Here’s how other Hays County cities fared:

• Buda: Monthly allocation $599,092.94, an increase of 9 percent compared to last year ($549,594.65). So far this year, Buda has received $6,321,162.36, up 14.40 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

• Dripping Springs: Monthly allocation $228,312,18, an increase of 23.53 percent compared to last year ($184,828.23). So far this year, Dripping Springs has received $2,139,436.57, up 14.69 compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

• Hays City: Monthly allocation $1,335.29, an increase of 14.08 percent compared to last year. So far this year, Hays City has received $14,879.49, up 36.38 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

• Kyle: Monthly allocation $803,103.92, an increase of 13.05 percent compared to last year. So far this year Kyle has received $7,352,818.45, up 9.54 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

• Mountain City: Monthly allocation $1,708.99, an increase of 11.46 percent compared to last year. So far this year, Mountain City has received $17,082.87, up 22.07 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

• Niederwald: Monthly allocation $4,582,87, an increase of 25.85 percent compared to last year. So far this year, Niederwald has received $36,588.66, up 10.65 percent compared to the first 11months of 2017.

• San Marcos: Monthly allocation $2,754,646.99, an increase of 7.10 percent. So far this year, San Marcos has received $32,572,570.48, up 27.64 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

• Uhland: Monthly allocation $18,500.60, an increase of 15.76 percent compared to last year. So far this year, Uhland has received $194,913.54, up 9.84 percent when compared to the first 11 months of 2017.

San Marcos, Buda, Kyle and Uhland have sales tax rates of 1.5 percent. Dripping Springs’ sales tax rate is 1.25 percent, while Hays City, Mountain City, Niederwald, Wimberley and Woodcreek all tax sales at the rate of 1 percent.

Anita Miller of the San Marcos Daily Record compiled the county results.