City of Orange, county show strong May sales

The city of Orange and Orange County had strong increases in sales tax rebates for the month of May, according to the Texas Comptroller's Office, which collects sales taxes and sends back shares to the taxing entities.

Bridge City stayed stagnant, while Vidor and West Orange had increases. Pinehurst had a monthly increase compared to May 2022, but is slightly down for the year to date.

The U.S. Consumer Price Index for May was a 4 percent increase in inflation.

Orange County has a half-cent per $1 sales tax and collected $673,310 for the month, a 16.63 percent increase from May 2022. The county has collected $4.53 million during the first seven months of the year, a 9.29 percent increase from the $4.15 million collected at the same time last year.

The city of Orange has a 1.5 cent per $1 sales tax and collected $820,633 for May, a hefty 62.23 percent from May last year. The city has collected $5.3 million so far this year, a 20.15 percent increase from the same time in 2022.

Bridge City received $173,072 percent for the month, down only $20 from the $173,092 last year. The city's year to date total is $1.29 million, down slightly from $1.3 million last year, or a 0.89 percent decrease. The city has a 1.5 cent per $1 sales tax.

Pinehurst was up 8.53 percent for May this year with $57,668, compared to $53,135 last year. For the year to date, the city has collected $385,317, a decrease of 0.84 percent from the $388,619 collected during the same period in 2022. The city has a 1.5 cent per $1 sales tax.

Vidor has a 1.5 cent per $1 sales tax and has increases in the month plus the year to date, compared to 2022. The city received $293,594 for May, an increase of 8.43 percent from the $270,763 in May last year. For the year to date, the city is up 3.58 percent with $2.09 million compared to $2.02 million last year.

West Orange has a 1.25 cent per $1 sales tax and collected $113,502 for May, compared to $270,765 in May last year, an increase of 3.5 percent. The city is also up for the year to date with $845,938 so far this year, compared to $802,695 for the same period last year, an increase of 5.38 percent.

The Little Cypress Fire and Rescue Department, or Orange County Emergency District No. 3, is the only special district in the county with a sales tax. The district has a 1.5 cent per $1 sales tax and collected $19,841 for May, down from $22,828 in May 2022. For the year to date, the district has $185,051, an increase from $163,411 during the same period last year.