Optional one-cent sales tax revenues are arriving as budgeted for the first two years of the four-year tax, Casper City Manager Tom Forslund said.

But city officials are concerned about the next two years, closely monitoring how, if at all, the national economic downturn may affect Casper.

"I think we will be OK with this one percent, we will be able to collect everything," Forslund said, referring to the current four-year tax. "We are certainly monitoring it on a month to month basis."

Of the projected $50 million, more than one-third of the city of Casper's share goes toward street projects, according to a city release.

Totalling about $15 million, the city uses the money to repair, patch and resurface residential streets, repaving three to four miles of residential streets each year.

The streets money also created a new storm drain on Paradise Drive and purchased new snowplows and trucks.

Since the one-cent is voted on by the entire county, each municipality as well as the county itself receives a portion of the money, allocated according to population.

Between July 2007 and January 2009, Casper received $27,002,365 of the total $36,078,377. It is up to each individual entity to decide how their money should be spent, Forslund said.

Overall, Forslund said the Natrona County citizens seem to be supportive of the tax, since this is the 13th time it has been approved since 1975. It will be up for renewal again in November 2010.

Casper City Council member Stefanie Boster regularly reminds citizens of the variety of projects in Casper that may not have happened without one-cent money.

About one-fifth of the revenues go toward building repairs and equipment replacement with another 12 percent funnelling into water main replacement.

One-quarter of the current tax money goes toward parks, the landfill as well as fire and police. The final 11 percent is divided among economic development, the senior center and other projects.

Each Casper resident will be able to see how their tax money is being spent in a report from the first two years that will be sent in an upcoming water bill.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com.