Sales Tax Receipts up in Local Cities

THE CLARENDON 12.19.2013 SANTA LETTERS Enterprise inside this week! THE CLARENDON NEWS & THE DONLEY COUNTY LEADEREADER www.ClarendonLive.com Aldermen Single 00 Copy $1 okay city THIS WEEK 2 Remember the reason for the season during this workers’ Christmas. 4 Peggy remembers Christ- mases from days gone by. pay raise 5 The Bronco basketball Christmas came early for team slams the boys from employees of the City of Clarendon Canadian. last week when the Board of Alder- 6 And the Clarendon Colts men approved raises for all person- claim the championship at a nel. tournament. The board debated the raises at All this and much more as The Enterprise its regular December 10 meeting and reports in this week’s yuletide edition! were informed that the city had his- torically given three percent across the board raises on an annual basis Chili Challenge but no raises were given in fi scal years 2012 or 2013. Employees also will be Dec. 19 did not get a raise in 2008. Late Night Shopping contin- A recommendation for a fi ve ues this week featuring the fi rst percent raise started the discussion, ever “Great Bowls of Fire” Chili but it became quickly apparent that Challenge Thursday, Dec. 19. Santa comes to town aldermen wanted to do more for their Local merchants are keep- Santa Claus poses with Haylin, Haughton, and Henry Bivens during the Clarendon Christmas Bazaar Saturday evening. The Jolly employees. ing their doors open until 8 p.m. Old Elf will be back downtown this Thursday during Late Night Shopping before he makes his annual fl ight next week. Check out “I think it would be fair to pay December 19 for your shopping a wage worth what they work,” said this week’s special insert to see what all the boys and girls of Donley County want under their tree this year. CC YEARBOOK / MATTHEW MARTINEZ convenience. Santa Claus will be Alderman Will Thompson. on hand both nights, and wagon “Compared to what other cities rides will be available. are paying, our guys are working a Ed Montana will provide month for free,” Alderman Larry Jef- the musical entertainment for the fers said. Chili Challenge, which will be Sales tax receipts up in local cities Discussion settled on a raise inside LaVelle’s, from 7 to 8:30 Clarendon’s sales tax collec- the year-to-date sales tax collec- total for the year was $7,601.79, an expected,” Combs said. of seven percent, and the debate p.m. as businesses go up against tions for the calendar year were tions to $411,672.43, which is a increase of 47.22 percent. “Sales tax collections have then turned to how best to distribute one another for bragging rights more than $75,000 higher than 22.54 percent increase over the Collections were also up in increased for 44 consecutive that increase. Alderman Doug Kidd and their chance at a traveling 2012, according to information $335,947.37 the city received in Howardwick but not nearly as dra- months. Revenue from sectors such encouraged dividing the money trophy. released by Texas Comptroller calendar year 2012. matically. The December rebate for as wholesale trade, services indus- evenly among all employees instead The winners will be selected Susan Combs last week. Hedley’s sales tax revenue the lakeside city was up 3.72 per- tries and restaurants contributed to of making raises based on percent- on a “people’s choice” basis, and City Hall received a December was also up for the month and the cent to $1,410.50 and the total for the most recent increase.” age of salary. admission is $5 per person. All allocation of $32,168.26, which was year. The December allocation 2013 was $17,380.16, an increase of The sales tax fi gures in the “If you’re really wanting to proceeds from the challenge will up 16.97 percent or $4,667.68 com- of $1,296.54 was a 459.48 per- 2.66 percent. December allocation represent help morale and help the guy at the go to the Mulkey Theatre project. pared to last December. cent increase over the $231.74 for “State sales tax revenue con- October sales reported by monthly bottom, this is better for lower paid Local merchants and the This month’s allocation brings the same time last year. The city’s tinues to grow at a moderate pace as tax fi lers. employees,” Kidd said. Donley County State Bank are The board approved a motion to also making shopping at home give a seven percent across the board easy this year with zero interest raise. Kidd cast the lone dissenting loans available for the holidays Comptroller reports bigger than expected state surplus vote, noting that he was not against for those who qualify. Contact the By Aman Batheja, Texas Tribune The revisions means that the If voters approve a related “Expectations are that we’ll the raise but just preferred a different bank at 874-3581 for details. The oil drilling boom’s Rainy Day Fund could be more constitutional amendment in probably be able to do better than method of distributing it. impact on Texas coffers continues fl ush than expected for the 2015 November, the highway fund will these numbers,” Craymer said. The raises will cost the city Enterprise sets to outpace offi cials’ expectations, legislative session, even after receive an extra $1.38 billion in While oil and gas activity has about $27,000 and will come from according to a report released by lawmakers backed measures asking 2015, and the Rainy Day Fund will had a signifi cant impact on state the money previously budgeted for holiday schedule the Texas comptroller’s offi ce on voters to approve tapping the fund’s receive the same amount, according revenue, the broader state economy the city administrator’s salary. The Clarendon Enterprise Thursday. revenue stream for water and road to Combs’ latest estimates. is also doing very well, Combs Aldermen also approved a will be closed December 19 - 26 Comptroller Susan Combs projects. Under that scenario, the Rainy reported. motion to allow the mayor $40 per for the Christmas holidays. reported that Texas ended the 2012- Last month, Texas voters Day Fund will have a balance of “Texas has recovered 100 month for mileage expenses. We appreciate the loyal sup- 13 biennium with a $2.6 billion approved transferring $2 billion $8.1 billion by the fall of 2015. percent of the jobs lost during The board considered the port of our readers and advertisers surplus, more than double the $964 from the Rainy Day Fund to a Dale Craymer, president of the the recession and added 597,000 election of directors to the Donley and your understanding of early million surplus her offi ce projected state water infrastructure bank. business-backed Texas Taxpayers beyond the previous peak in Appraisal District and voted to give deadlines during this time of year. over the summer. The report also Earlier this year, state lawmakers and Research Association, said August 2008,” Combs wrote. “The all the city’s votes to Wilma Lindley The deadline for next week’s predicts that Texas taxes paid by also passed a measure that would Combs’ projections are still “very economic forecast underlying this for that position. issue has already passed, and the energy development fi rms will be require dedicating half of the future conservative” considering the revenue estimate projects Texas will A budget amendment was December 26 edition will be dis- at least $2 billion more than earlier tax revenue currently earmarked economic activity coming from the continue adding jobs in fi scal years approved to move $1,000 from the tributed next Thursday. projections, resulting in $8 billion for the Rainy Day Fund to the state oil and gas industry in South and 2014 and 2015, although not at the elevator line item to the street depart- With New Year’s disrupting in the state’s piggy bank by 2015. highway fund. West Texas in recent months. pace of 2011, 2012, or 2013.” ment for equipment expenses. the schedule for the January 2 edition, we’re asking everyone to please have all your news, photos, and ads for that paper in the offi ce Child abuse can result by noon on Monday, December 30. We will resume our regular deadlines for the January 9 edi- from holiday stresses tion. Thank you! AUSTIN – The holidays are a to remind you of school events, joyous time when loved ones come church activities, parties, etc. Car registrations together to share traditions and to 4. Remind children that a gift’s celebrate. But for many families, the importance is not determined by the can be done online holidays can also be a time of stress amount of money spent on it. Hand- Donley County residents can and frustration, sometimes uninten- made gifts and freshly baked cook- now renew their automobile tags tionally resulting in an increased risk ies are welcome and appreciated by online and pay with a credit card. of child abuse and neglect. friends and relatives. Tax Assessor / Collec- “Research tells us that eco- 5. Have your children make a tor Linda Crump said Monday nomic and personal stresses are list of elderly or shut-in neighbors in that online registrations can be leading contributors to child abuse your area. Plan to share a meal, some renewed at www.txdmv.gov. and neglect,” said Wendell Teltow, of your time, or run errands for these Crump said her offi ce at the Executive Director of Prevent Child neighbors.

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