Despite power outages and devastating winter storms, Langley had the highest retail sales the city has ever seen in 2006, and they are continuing to grow in the new year, said Langley Clerk/Treasurer Debbie Mahler.

Sales taxes received by Langley in February of this year reflect sales activity in December, and the revenues were the highest monthly amount ever collected by the city. Sales in Langley were about 15 percent higher in 2006 than in 2005, a bigger percentage jump than in any other jurisdiction is Island County.

Mahler said she was not sure yet what the contributing factors were, but added that construction activity impacts sales taxes, and much building was going on in Langley in 2006.

The news was a silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud for city businesses. Merchants had complained that they had a hard time adjusting to lost business due to the bad weather during the holiday shopping season. But while retailers and restaurants reported losses, the trend couldn’t be observed in the city’s tax revenue.

Mayor Neil Colburn joked that the extraordinary sales of batteries and small generators must have off-set the losses of other retailers.

The city of Langley received $289,977 in sales tax revenue in 2006 from retail sales of more $35 million. In 2005, revenues were $254,062 from retail sales of $28 million, which was an increase over 2004.

Retail sales did drop in Langley following 9-11 and did not get back to the same level until 2005. City officials said they have been growing ever since.

Michaela Marx Wheatley can be reached at 221-5300 or mmarxwheatley@southwhidbey

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