n Three small towns experience increase.

By Mack Spencer

Chicksaw Journal

January sales tax returns were dreadful for most of the Twin Counties' towns. Nine of the 12 area towns whose returns are tracked by this newspaper experienced mostly precipitous drops in that vital source of revenue.

Bruce's sales tax returns dropped more than $8,000, close to 20 percent lower than January 2008's returns.

In Okolona, tax returns dropped by almost a quarter from the previous January, falling more than $6,600 short of last year's mark for the month.

Woodland, already struggling with months of shortfalls as compared to the same month a year ago, saw its returns fall by almost $4,000. Houlka's returns tumbled more than $3,000.

Houston, Calhoun City and Vardaman got less of a shock, with each town's returns falling less than $1,000.

There were bright surprises in the month's figures.

Pittsboro more than doubled its returns from a year ago, with an increase of $365. Derma bested January 2008's numbers by about $750, and Slate Springs also rose, about $45.

Overall:

n Big Creek - down $220 for the month, down $550 for the year.

n Bruce - down $8,000 for the month, down $13,000 for the year.

n Calhoun City - down $700 for the month, up $6,700 for the year.

n Derma - up $750 for the month, up $1,450 for the year.

n Houlka - down $3,000 for the month, down $4,000 for the year.

n Houston - down $800 for the month, down $7,500 for the year.

n Mantee - down $700 for the month, down $300 for the year.

n Okolona - down $6,500 for the month, down $8,000 for the year.

n Pittsboro - up $365 for the month, down $100 for the year.

n Slate Springs - up $40 for the month, up $150 for the year.

n Vardaman - down $900 for the month, up $3,000 for the year.

n Woodland - down $4,000 for the month, down $8,000 for the year.