Stay-home orders and other restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were in full effect in April. As a result, sales tax revenue continued to decline for cities and counties across the state.

Year-to-year comparisons of sales and use tax data released by the Texas comptroller’s office in June show changes in revenue from April 2019-April 2020. Across the state, sales tax revenue declined more than $55 million from $499 million to $443.6 million.

In the Keller-Roanoke-northeast Fort Worth area, the city of Fort Worth saw the largest year-over-year decrease in April revenue at 13.53%. The city collected north of $13.3 million in sales and use tax revenue in April 2019 and $11.5 million during April 2020.

The city of Roanoke also saw a decline in revenue of 13.33% when comparing April 2020 to April 2019. In 2019, the city tallied more than $1.5 million in April while bringing in $1.3 million in 2020.

Bucking the trend, sales and use tax revenue increased by 16.44% in the city of Keller from April 2019 to April 2020. The city raised $1.02 million in 2020 compared to $876,000 during the same time last year.





Facing similar obstacles, nearby cities of Grapevine and Southlake also saw year-over-year declines in sales and use tax revenue.

From April 2019 to April 2020, revenue decreased by 33.07% in Grapevine and 19.76% in Southlake. The city of Grapevine saw the largest monetary decline at more than $1.6 million.