Gonzales sales tax allocations fall below last year’s pace

November 2023 sales tax allocations for Gonzales County dropped by $22,546.24 from November 2022, marking the third straight month the county has seen an overall decrease in sales tax receipts when compared to the previous year.

The shift in economic fortune for the county has been somewhat puzzling as it comes during a period of job growth within the area, but may be reflective of residents curtailing their spending and being frugal with turmoil occurring throughout the world.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced he has sent cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations for November, 1.9 percent more than in November 2022.

These allocations are based on sales made in September by businesses that report tax monthly and on sales made in July, August and September by quarterly filers.

For the month of November 2023, Gonzales County municipalities received a combined $306,895.77 in sales tax allocations, down some $22,546.24 or 6.84 percent below the $329,442.01 received during November 2022.

For the year, county municipalities have received $3,449,171.31, up $71,933.39 or 2.13 percent, above the $3,377,237.92 received through this time in 2022.

Sales tax allocations for Gonzales, the largest city in the county which generates the lion’s share of sales tax revenue, were $259,299.26, down $25,942.69 or 9.09 percent below the $285,241.95 received during November 2022.

For the year, the city has received $2,922,383.71, down $4, 652.28 or 0.15 percent, below the $2,927,035.99 received at this same point in 2022. However, the amount paid to Gonzales in 2023 is still the second-highest amount the city has ever collected up to this point in a year behind 2022’s allocation.

Waelder received a total of $10,368.58, up a whopping 46.57 percent or $3,294.87, above the $7,073.71 received in November 2022. For the year, Waelder has received $126,100.71, up $50,428.57, or 66.64 percent, above the $75,672.14 received at this point in 2022. The city has shattered the record $84,776.57 it received in all of 2022 and still has allocations coming in December in what has been a banner year for Waelder when it comes to retail sales and use tax.

Sales tax receipts for Nixon were $34,263.18, up $933.54, or 2.80 percent, above the $33,329.64 received in November 2022. For the year, the city has received $366,089.36, up $23,569.68, or 6.88 percent, above the $342,519.68 received at this same point last year.

Finally, Smiley’s sales tax receipts were $2,964.75, down $831.96, or 21.91 percent, from the $3,796.71 received in November 2022. For the year, the city has received $34,597.53, up $2,587.42 or 8.08 percent above the $32,010.11 received at this point in 2022.

Three cities in Gonzales County — Gonzales, Nixon and Waelder — collect a 1.5 percent sales tax rate, while Smiley collects a 1 percent sales tax.