Largest Sales Tax Check in History

Odessa and Midland officials may be pleased with this month's sales tax revenue, but that hasn't stopped their predictions of an economic slow down.

Odessa's February check of $2,912,173.36 rose 12.28 percent from February 2008. The city of Odessa will pocket $2,329,738 of the check, while the Odessa Development Corp. will get $582,434.

That is the 39th consecutive increase for Odessa when checks are compared against the previous year. It's also the biggest monthly collection ever.

"We had a good Christmas season," James Zentner, Odessa assistant city manager, said.

This month's sales tax revenue is based on December retail sales, the heart of the 2008 holiday shopping season.

The City of Midland is also celebrating their largest monthly revenue with a sales tax income of $3,076,655.

"I expected it to be bigger than last year," Midland director of finance Bob McNaughton said, "but I wasn't really expecting a 24 percent increase."

Still, both Zenter and McNaughton warn that changes could be coming to the city's revenue.

The two agree that a slow down could be seen as early as next month.

"I have no basis for it, except kind of a gut feeling," McNaughton said. "A growth of 24 percent can't be sustained - it just can't."

Zetner agreed.

"We just have to wait and see," he said.

The Ector County Hospital District continues to see increases as well, bringing in $2,509,932.25.

That's a 14.47 percent increase from 2008.

By the numbers

Here is a look at January sales tax checks for area cities and how they compare to January 2008:

City Check Pct. Change

Alpine $124,652.50 up 33.64

Andrews $443,083.99 up 37.96

Big Lake $113,457.76 up 28.3

Big Spring $660,943.12 up 19.42

Crane $76,040.98 up 15.22

Fort Stockton $331,387.47 up 6.41

Goldsmith $24240.44 up 121.92

Grandfalls $3,044.16 down 15.30

Kermit $49,480.74 up 1.6

Lamesa $140,697.07 up .75

Marfa $298,35.96 up 14.34

McCamey $258,19.92 up .86

Midland $3,076.655 up 24.37

Monahans $194,638.68 up 33.5

Odessa $2,912,173.36 up 12.28

Pecos $152,401.53 up 14.7

Presidio $49662.08 down 13.84

Pyote $1,820.43 up 74.67

Rankin $7,530.15 up 1.95

Seminole $10,6873.21 down 3.27

Stanton $30,823.09 down 9.7

Toyah $608.13 down 7.9

Wickett $10,857.95 down 44.08

Wink $13,728.20 up 6.11