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Urgent Updates
How do local sales tax distributions from the comptroller look
like this month?
Today (7/8), the comptroller announced the distribution of
$744.2 million in monthly sales tax revenue to all local governments for
July. While the $744.2 million figure represents a 2.6 percent drop from July
2019, the city-specific numbers for July are a little bit better. Cities
received $483.4 million in the July allocation, only a 1.1 percent drop from
July 2019. According to the comptroller, declines were not as steep as last
month because widespread social distancing requirements were relaxed across
the state in May, which is the reporting period reflected in the July
numbers.
The comptroller’s full press release on local sales tax
numbers in July can be accessed here.
Where can I find detailed data regarding the spread of
COVID-19 and the impact on our community and local economy?
The Texas nonprofit organization Texas 2036 has created a Texas COVID-19 Tracking Resource that incorporates, among
other things, public health data, economic data, and even community mobility
reports from Google. In addition, the application includes information
related to federal COVID-19 funding received by cities and counties.
Interested city officials can view much of this data both at the state and
county level.
As a reminder, Texas Department of State Health Services
maintains an interactive COVID-19 Case Dashboard that
shows all sorts of figures related to the virus, including data by county and
case demographics. The dashboard is updated daily.
What is the latest on how the pandemic will affect public
schools in the fall?
Yesterday (7/7), the Texas Education Agency released health guidelines for the 2020-2021 school year.
Although the guidance is subject to change depending on the trajectory of the
pandemic’s impact in Texas, the document represents the clearest statement
yet to local school districts on how to handle instruction in the fall. Among
other things, the guidance requires school districts to offer daily on-campus
instruction, but also allows parents to opt-in to virtual instruction from a
school district that offers it. Additionally, schools must comply with
Governor Abbott’s recent executive order on masks, should it still be in
effect during the school year.
Further Updates
Where can I find archived issues of the TML Coronavirus
Updates?
TML Coronavirus Updates are archived by date here and by subject here.
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