Sales tax collections for the city of Denton are up more than 13 percent, or $1.9 million, for the fiscal year, compared with the same period last year.
From May sales, the city collected $2,048,301, about 19 percent greater than its budget projection.
Bryan Langley, the city’s finance director, said sales tax collections have increased citywide but the Denton Crossing, Unicorn Lake and Rayzor Ranch areas have generated much of the increases. Those areas have a collected a combined $432,414 in sales taxes this year, according to the data.
Villa Grande general manager David Gonzalez, who opened his restaurant a month ago at Rayzor Ranch Marketplace, said his business is doing really well.
He said his restaurant on West University Drive mostly gets busy during lunchtime, but he hopes it picks up in the evening.
Linda Ratliff, the city’s economic development director, said construction around town is contributing to the increase in sales tax collections.
“It is looking good for businesses and for the city as well; it is revenue they collect when they have successful sales,” Ratliff said.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said last week that state sales tax revenue has increased for 27 consecutive months.
Sales tax revenue in June (for monthly sales made in May) was $1.98 billion, an increase of 15 percent compared with June 2011.
In a prepared statement, she attributed the boost to manufacturing and the oil and gas industries.
According to the comptroller’s report, Denton County has received $58.7 million in sales tax from January to June — 15.55 percent more than the same period in 2011.
The comptroller reported that the city of Denton collected $1,930,853.51 in tax from May sales. Langley said that does not reflect the $117,400 the city collected directly in sales tax for electric utilities.
Langley also said that compared with prior years, the present sales tax figures are significant. The city budgeted $23.45 million in sales tax collections last September, according to the city’s report.
It has collected $17 million in sales taxes, with four months of collections remaining.
KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com .
SALES TAX COLLECTIONS
Here is a comparison of the amount the city of Denton budgeted for sales tax revenue and the amount it collected for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Month | 2011-12 budget | 2011-12 collected |
October | $1,740,874 | $1,977,646 |
November | $1,746,300 | $1,868,669 |
December | $2,535,944 | $2,666,634 |
January | $1,768,226 | $1,917,675 |
February | $1,669,267 | $1,839,133 |
March | $2,288,555 | $2,663,452 |
April | $1,765,212 | $1,927,371 |
May | $1,721,217 | $2,048,301 |
SOURCE: City of Denton finance department
