Western Travis County cities could be approaching a rebound in sales tax revenue amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, per data released by the Texas Comptroller’s Office on July 8.

The updated numbers pertain to revenue generated throughout May, when a number of businesses, including bars and gyms, reopened under orders issued by Gov. Greg Abbott.

While several municipalities experienced year-over-year decreases in May, the drop was generally less drastic than in recent months.

West Lake Hills experienced a 14% decrease, a slight improvement from the 20.54% drop seen in April.

“While it’s still not good news, it’s a little better than the one before,” City Administrator Travis Askey said during a June 8 City Council meeting.


In contrast, the city of Lakeway saw an uptick in revenue when compared to the same time frame last year. Sales tax payments reached jumped 8.55% in May, a sharp departure from the 13.67% drop seen in April.

Despite the improvements, Lakeway City Manager Julie Oakley said she would be emphasizing a conservative approach during preliminary budget discussions for fiscal year 2020-21.

"I think through next budget season, we're still going to see some effects [of the pandemic]," Oakley said during a July 7 council meeting. "My general advice for uncertain times is to take flight toward conservatism."

How sales tax numbers have changed since March