City of Tyler institutes hiring freeze

Tax revenues are way down.

Photo not provided by City of Tyler

Hiring freeze

TYLER — Information from the Texas Comptroller indicates that City of Tyler sales tax revenues have decreased 8.41 percent as compared to this period in 2009. This translates into $227,753. less funding than in the same month last year. Year-to-date revenues have declined 11.65 percent.

The reported revenue of $ 2,478,780.52 is comprised of $ 1,652,520.35 general sales tax revenue and $ 826,260.17 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from November collections, as there is a two-month period before revenue is reported.

Other East Texas cities also experienced monthly declines in sales tax revenue, including Lufkin with a 15.91 percent decrease; Lindale with a 0.44 percent drop; and Longview with a 27.36 percent decrease. The statewide monthly average decrease was 11.43 percent.

“While the decrease for this month compared to budget is approximately $ 180,000, it is less that the over $ 330,000 gaps we have experienced the last two months,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “My hope is that February’s collections representing December’s sales will continue in this improved direction. However as a precautionary measure, a hiring freeze was imposed on Monday in anticipation of the decrease in collections, and employee training has been restricted. These are the same measures that were put into place last fiscal year which allowed the City to remain in a positive position at year end.”

Source: City of Tyler