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Texans were still spending carefully in October, and the state collected $1.52 billion in sales taxes, or 12.8 percent less than the same month a year ago, the state comptroller said Friday.
It represented the eighth straight month of declines."Declining sales tax collections, which began in February, have continued with October’s collections," said Susan Combs, the Texas comptroller. "Tax collections are down in major sectors of the economy, including retail trade, oil and natural gas, and construction."Sales tax payments to Tarrant County and its cities, made the month after their collection, dropped 8.7 percent compared with November 2008. Fort Worth was among the cities hurt by the sluggish economy, down 12.6 percent.
Sales tax payments for November (millions of dollars)
Source: Texas comptroller’s office
| City | October 2009 | October 2008 | Pct. change |
| Arlington | 7.91 | 7.95 | -0.36 |
| Bedford | 0.95 | 0.97 | -1.58 |
| Dallas | 18.60 | 21.00 | -11.60 |
| Euless | 0.96 | 1.18 | -18.20 |
| Fort Worth | 9.20 | 10.50 | -12.60 |
| Grapevine | 2.85 | 3.20 | -9.70 |
| Hurst | 1.27 | 1.39 | -8.70 |
| Mansfield | 1.38 | 1.53 | -9.75 |
| Saginaw | 0.37 | 0.47 | -21.30 |
| Southlake | 1.18 | 1.29 | -8.13 |
| Westlake | 0.48 | 0.43 | +10.50 |
| Collin County | 15.50 | 16.30 | -5.30 |
| Dallas County | 42.80 | 47.40 | -9.57 |
| Denton County | 7.60 | 8.20 | -7.62 |
| Tarrant County | 35.80 | 38.90 | -7.81 |
BARRY SHLACHTER, 817-390-7718
@Nyx.CommentBody@