Sales taxes in cities lag behind inflation rate, Countywide sales remain strong

Countywide sales tax collections in August remain above the federal inflation rate, but some cities are lagging behind the inflation rate with sales taxes, according to figures from the Texas Comptroller's Office.

The cities of Bridge City and West Orange were the only two getting more in August 2022 compared to August 2021, and for the year to date income. However, both cities increases were below the federal inflation rate of 8.3 percent in August this year.

Orange County, which collects a 0.5 percent sales tax, is receiving $609,420 in sales taxes for the month, an increase of 22.52 percent from the $497,392 for August 2021. The national inflation rate for August was 8.3 percent. The county for the year to date has $6.05 million, compared to $5.41 million for the same time last year, an increase of 11.72 percent.

Bridge City has a sales tax rate of 1.5 percent and received $165,246 for August, a 4.47 percent increase from $158,171 in August last year. The city has received $1.84 million in sales taxes for the year to date, compared to $1.71 million for the same period last year, an increase of 7.45 percent.

The city of Orange with a 1.5 percent sales tax rate dropped drastically for August 2022 compared to last year, but is still up for the year to date. The city received $396,111 for August, a 23.68 percent decrease rom $519,056 in August last year. The city is now at $5.95 million for the year to date, compared to $5.64 million last year, an increase of 5.44 percent.

Pinehurst saw a jump in sales tax receipts in August, but is still down for the year to date. The city has a 1.5 percent sales tax and received $59,043 for August, compared to $48,159 for August last year, an increase of 22.60 percent. The city is now at $563,104 for the year to date, down 4.79 percent from the $591,440 from last year.

Vidor, with a 1.5 percent sales tax rate, saw a big increase in receipts for August, but is stagnant for the year to date. The city got $294,889 for August this year, an increase of 19.09 percent from August last year. The city for the year to date is at $2.93 million, down from $2.94 million last year at the same time, a decrease of 0.36 percent.

The city of West Orange has a 1.25 percent sales tax and collected $110,770 for August this year, compared to $102,402 last year, an increase of 8.17 percent. The city now has $1.13 million for the year to date, an increase of 1.80 percent from the $1.11 million collected for the year to date in 2021.

Orange County Emergency Services District 3 is the only special district in the county to collect a sales tax. The district is for the Little Cypress Fire and Rescue Department and has a 1.5 percent sales tax approved by voters. In August, the district collected $25,061, compared to $19,747 for August last year. The district has collected $244,718 for the year to date, an increase of 10.99 percent from the $220,473 collected at the same time last year.