The office of Texas Comptroller Susan Combs distributed $500.7 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, and when Kingsville opened its envelope, it was short 38,055.25 compared to November of last year.

Local sales tax allocations in Texas are down 8.7 percent compared to November 2008.

To fund the November allocations, the Texas comptroller said the state collected $1.52 billion in sales tax revenue in October, down 12.8 percent compared to October 2008.

“Declining sales tax collections, which began in February, have continued with October’s collections,” Combs said.

“Tax collections are down in major sectors of the economy, including retail trade, oil and natural gas and construction.”

Kingsville received $336,268.75 compared to $374,824 last November for a decline of 10.28 percent.

Year to date revenue is $3,522,597.09 compared to $3,606,755.91 for the same period last year, reflecting a 2.33 decline.

Bishop received $17,957 in November compared to $17,241 last November for a 4.15 percent increase. Year to date city sales tax revenue is $165,174 compared to $171,776 last year for a decline of 3.84 percent.

Driscoll received $3,217 this month compared to $3,798 last November for a decline of 15.29 percent while year to date collections of $37,177 are down 11.37 percent compared to $41,951 for the same period last year.

By comparison, Alice sales tax allocations for November are down 36.87 percent compared to last November and year to date revenue is down 27.31 percent.

Corpus Christi’s allocation for November is down 14.89 percent compared to last November and year to date allocations are down 6.74 percent.

Kleberg County received $122,619 in its November allocation compared to $141,525 last November for a drop of 13.35 percent. Year to date revenue of $1,277,954 i s down 9.6 percent compared to last year’s revenue of $1,413,947.

The comptroller’s office sent Texas cities $342.6 million in sales tax allocations, down 8.3 percent compared to November 2008. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are down 4.2 percent compared to the same time period last year.

Texas counties received November sales tax allocations of $28.2 million, down 14.5 percent compared to one year ago. For the calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are running 3.7 percent below 2008 revenues.

The 153 special purpose taxing districts around the state received $19.4 million in sales tax, down 5.2 percent compared to last November. Ten local transit systems received $110.4 million in November sales tax rebates, down 8.7 percent compared to a year ago.

November sales tax allocations to local governments represent September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by monthly tax filers and July, August and September sales reported to the Comptroller in October by quarterly tax filers.