Saving money requires either making more or spending less. All statistics indicate people are not making more money.

The other shoe continues to drop, hard.

Figures released this week show that taxable sales in Buchanan County decreased by 10 percent in February, compared to February 2008. That makes four straight months of declining sales here.

It's an indication of the obvious - the result of decade-high unemployment, dwindling stock portfolios and a general financial concern. But these figures are unexpected for local and state governments that rely on sales taxes instead of property taxes alone.

"I don't think I've ever seen it decrease (four) months in a row," said Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway, an officeholder for 27 years.

The Buchanan County government took a fairly conservative approach this year, anticipating a 1 percent growth in sales tax revenue. But one-third of the way into 2009, sales tax revenue is down a total of more than 5 percent. Revenue reports in April and May were worse yet, showing declines of 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively, compared to last year. (Revenue reports lag behind actual sales, so April and May reports indicate sales in January and February, a county official said.)

For the remainder of 2009, a simple rebound will not allow the county to avoid budget cuts. Sales would have to grow compared to 2008 to make up for the bad start.

"This train is going to have to turn around quickly," said Presiding Commissioner Royal "R.T." Turner.

Eastern District Commissioner Dan Hausman said the sales figures are discouraging, but he notes that property taxes and riverboat gaming revenues are on target.

"It's not as gloom-and-doom as it appears, but it's not good," Mr. Hausman said.

The figures follow the same trend for city of St. Joseph sales taxes. January's sales tax report was the last to hold pace with 2008. Like the county, the losses grew worse the last two months.

Joe Blumberg can be reached

at joeblumberg@npgco.com.

In decline

Buchanan County's general sales tax has declined for four straight months. This indicates potential problems for the government, and it provides proof of broader economic trends.

n Month: %Increase/Decrease, $Increase/Decrease

n January: 1.1%, $5,490

n February: -5.8%, -$23,601

n March: -2.5%, -$15,533

n April: -11.8%, -$61,387

n May: -10%, -$31,000

n Total: -5.4%, -$126,031

(Month indicates date money was received, but the actual sales for that month lag behind by more than two months. For example, the May report indicates sales from February.)

Source: Buchanan County