Odessa sales-tax check increases again

Odessa’s sales-tax check for February increased by 25 percent in February 2010 compared to numbers released Wednesday by the Texas Comptroller’s office.

The city of Odessa brought in $2,862,853.48 in February collections, which are based on December sales. Of that, the Odessa Development Corp. will receive $ $572,570.69 through its quarter-cent sales tax.

It was the 10th consecutive month in which Odessa sales-tax revenue increased compared to the previous year, though the numbers still trail the final highs of the 2008 boom. Five of the past six months have seen receipts less than their counterparts from two years ago. February 2011’s check was 1.72 percent less than February 2009.

The Ector County Hospital District, which collects a three-quarter cent sales tax, collected $2,397,642.88, a 39.18 percent increase compared to the February 2010 collection. That was 4.47 percent less than 2009, however.

The state’s sales tax revenue in January was $1.83 billion, an increase of 10.4 percent compared to January 2010. The state will send $654.8 million in local sales tax to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 5.9 percent compared to sales tax distributions to local governments in February 2010. State Comptroller Susan Combs reported the strongest growth was from sectors fueled by business spending, such as oil and gas activity.

Midland received $4.65 million, a 25.48 percent year-over-year increase. This was Midland’s largest check ever from the state comptroller, surpassing the $4.61 million from February 2009. By comparison, February’s check was more than half what the city received for all of 1991.

Wickett also continued to show large increases in sales-tax revenue. The more than $26,000 the city received in February was 170 percent of what it got 2010.

City Secretary Beverly McNutt said the recent uptick, which began with checks received in April 2010, is due to oilfield traffic picking up, giving gas stations and mechanic shops more business.

McNutt said the extra money hasn’t caused a change in the city’s budget, but provided for the purchase of a new fire truck and repairing pipes burst in the recent cold snap.

“It does allow for help with emergencies,” McNutt said.

AREA SALES TAX CHECKS
February collections are based on December sales.
City        Check        Pct. Change
Odessa    $2,862,853.48    up 25.25
Alpine    $139,636.97    up 22.80
Andrews    $434,348.77    up 15.63
Big Lake    $112,188.96    up 86.00
Big Spring    $659,610.59    up 1.02
Crane    $58,871.54    up 21.06
Fort Stockton    $218,709    up 1.68
Goldsmith    $20,712.77    up 24.78
Grandfalls    $2,358.67    down 6.33
Kermit    $55,551.92    up 18.85
Lamesa    $141,579.59    up 7.01
Marfa        $29,538.41    down 1.95
McCamey    $22,815.06    down 33.13
Midland    $4,654,346.49    up 25.48
Monahans    $195,451.42    up 63.51
Pecos    $126,553.29    up 10.16
Presidio    $54,560.63    up 11.63
Pyote        1,054.90        down 53.19
Rankin    $10,261.76    up 18.96
Seminole    $128,265.12    up 9.84
Toyah    $430.67        up 9.50
Wickett    $26,332.22    up 170.50
Wink        $17,956.69    up 30.72