HARLINGEN — Sales tax allocations to cities, counties and other taxing entities were sharply down in July after a strong June, perhaps indicating a slowing of economic activity due to rising COVID-19 infection rates in the latter month.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Thursday he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $765.3 million in local sales tax allocations for the month, 4.5 percent less than in 2019. These allocations are based on sales made in July by businesses that report tax monthly.
Nearly all the big cities in the Valley showed substantial drops year-over-year, with tourism-dependent South Padre Island and Port Isabel showing the largest decreases for the month, 33.23 percent and 26.98 percent lower than the previous year.
Elsewhere in Cameron County, Harlingen was down 2.90 percent for July, San Benito was down 1.78 percent and Brownsville was down 8.23 percent.
La Feria showed the biggest gain year-over-year, up 13.72 percent compared to last July, while Rio Hondo was up 10.27 percent and Los Fresnos was up 2.17 percent.
In Willacy County, Raymondville posted a 7.77 percent gain over the previous year, while Lyford was up 1.15 percent.
In Hidalgo County, all major cities posted decreases in sales tax allocations from the previous year.
Mercedes was down 45.46 percent, McAllen was down 14.50 percent, Pharr was down 2.28 percent, Edinburg was off 2.06 percent, Mission was down 1.62 percent and Weslaco posted a drop of 0.31 percent.
July Sales Tax Receipts
City July 2020 For the year
HARLINGEN Down 2.90 percent Down 1.99 percent
SAN BENITO Down 1.78 percent Up 12.71 percent
LA FERIA Up 13.72 percent Up 1.19 percent
RIO HONDO Up 10.27 percent Up 13.79 percent
PORT ISABEL Down 26.98 percent Up 4.55 percent
S. PADRE ISL. Down 33.23 percent Down 9.77 percent
BROWNSVILLE Down 8.23 Up 0.45 percent
LOS FRESNOS Up 2.17 percent Up 7.04 percent
RAYMONDVILLE Up 17.77 percent Up 5.01 percent
LYFORD Up 1.15 percent Down 3.08 percent
McALLEN Down 14.50 percent Down 5.44 percent
EDINBURG Down 2.06 percent Up 1.87 percent
PHARR Down 2.28 percent Down 1.21 percent
MISSION Down 1.62 percent Down 1.40 percent
MERCEDES Down 45.46 percent Down 16.48 percent
WESLACO Down 0.31 percent Up 3.80 percent
Source: Texas Comptroller’s Office; allocations based on sales made in July by businesses that report tax monthly
