Odessa sales-tax check increases again

The local economy continues to go from strength to strength, following 2011’s sales tax numbers with even greater returns.

The city of Odessa received $3,559,425.22 from the state comptroller’s office, a check based on December’s sales taxes.

That was the largest check Odessa had ever received; the previous record came in November at $3.02 million, the only other time Odessa’s check had exceeded $3 million.

The check for February 2012 was 24.33 percent greater than 2011, and 55.72 percent greater than 2010. Of that, the city will receive $2,847,540.18 and the Odessa Development Corporation will receive $711,885.04 based on its quarter-cent tax.

Odessa’s largest check ever wasn’t even the largest check in the city and its growth was only half of what the Ector County Hospital District showed. The ECHD’s $3,464,559.41 was 44.50 percent greater than 2011, and double the sales-tax check of 2010.

Midland also continued to see record-breaking results. Its $5,194,198.86 was the largest check it had ever received, topping May 2011, which had $5.17 million. Growth slowed to “just” 11.60 percent compared to February 2011, but that was 40.02 percent greater than February 2010.

The other 22 area cities received a combined $3,075,891.95 for February, which was 29.68 percent greater than last year.

Like Odessa, Midland, and the hospital district, the state has seen 22 consecutive months of increased year-over-year revenue.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs stated sales-tax revenue from December was up almost 10 percent over last year.

Wednesday's sales tax report showed revenue from December at $2 billion, and Combs said tax revenues continue to grow in all major categories. The increase was led by the oil and natural gas sectors. Restaurants and services sectors also showed increases.

The state will distribute about $709 million to local governments.

@OAinteractive