City, hospital sales tax revenue climbs

Odessa sales tax revenue from the state increased in January for the 12th consecutive month as the local economy continues to grow.

The payment from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, announced Wednesday, totaled more than $4.5 million, about a 43.5 percent increase from the same month of last year.

A fifth of the city’s sales tax revenue, or more than $914,000, goes to the Odessa Development Corporation for economic development. That leaves more than $3.8 million for the City of Odessa’s general spending fund.

The city’s new fiscal year began Oct. 1 with $30.76 million in sales tax revenue budgeted for the general spending fund, but monthly collections have steadily exceeded projections.

Collecting greater sales tax revenue than budget writers projected allows city officials to shore up reserve funds and consider projects that had been postponed.

Projects could include work on downtown properties owned by the city, many of which are in need of repair and restoration if they are not demolished or sold as-is. The city has acquired more than a dozen properties in recent years.

In addition to the city, the Ector County Hospital District also saw another month of growth in sales tax revenue. The district received more than $3.8 million, up about 49.6 percent from the same period of last year.

The City of Midland collected a January sales tax check of more than $4.6 million, an increase of about 8.2 percent from the same month of 2017.

Statewide, sales tax figures distributed by the comptroller’s office to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts increased 9.5 percent in January compared to the same month last year. The allocations are based on November sales.