Economy on the rise in Harlingen

HARLINGEN – The city experienced healthy gains in sales tax revenues in July and also in hotel-motel occupancy rates for second quarter 2012.

Sales tax revenues to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in July increased 3.49 percent as compared to July 2011. The increase from the start of the fiscal year through July is 7.9 percent.

From the start of the fiscal year in October 2011 through July this year, the EDC has received nearly $3.2 million in sales tax revenues compared to nearly $3 million for the time period the prior year.

The City of Harlingen saw $1,824,347 in sales tax revenues in July, compared with $1,762,791 for July 2011. Since the start of the fiscal year through July, the city has received nearly $17 million in sales tax compared with nearly $16 million.

The hotel-motel occupancy rate for second quarter of this fiscal year was 63.5 percent, up from 53.2 percent for the same period last year.