Lubbock city government started the year on a slightly improved fiscal note, receiving a bigger sales tax distribution check from the state than it did last January.

The city received nearly $3.7 million, which was 0.48 percent better than the $3.68 million that arrived in January 2009. The increased payment bucked a continuing general trend for the state, where sales tax collections for December were down 11.6 percent from December 2008.

Lubbock County's sales tax distribution was up 0.11 percent from January 2009, representing an increase of about $400. The county's allocation was almost $1.26 million.

Distributions to the state's local taxing districts came from November sales, collected by the state in December. State collections totaled $1.65 billion. Lubbock was one of only five cities in the state's 20 largest where the distribution was greater than last year's.

Round Rock's allocation was 10.11 percent higher than last year. Other cities to receive higher allocations were McAllen, Plano and El Paso.