Gaming revenue inches nearer pre-Katrina level

Biloxi’s three casino resorts reported nearly $59 million in gross gaming revenue for the calendar month of February, amounting to nearly 72 percent of the business that the nine-resort strong industry in Biloxi did this time last year.

The city on its web site today posted the calendar-month figures for February, and last week posted the February ’06 state collections, which use a timetable based on when the city receives the funds from the State Tax Commission.

The true-month $58.8 million reported in February shows a decline in actual revenue from the $64 million posted in January, but the February gross represents a larger percentage of the February ’05 gaming revenue.

“The bottom line is that these numbers show brisk business at the Biloxi resorts, and this is testament to the unprecedented potential we’ll realize as we move forward in the recovery process,” said Director of Administration David Staehling. “And it’s not just a matter of gaming revenue. It’s about jobs, and showing the investment world that Biloxi is indeed on the road to recovery.”

To see the breakdown for yourself, click here.


Finally! Katrina albums, DVDs begin shipping

City Hall staffers this afternoon began packaging advance orders that have been placed for the “Katrina & Biloxi” photo album and DVD, and those who placed orders should see their orders arriving as early as mid-week.

More than 1,200 advance orders were made, and about 600 orders were packaged Friday afternoon, to be placed in the Postal Service’s hands Monday.

All orders – including those being placed now online – should be arriving within three weeks or order.

The city expects to have the DVD and photo album in Wal-Mart stores regionally initially in a month to 45 days.

To order online, click here..


New building code on agenda for Tuesday

Mayor A.J. Holloway is asking the Biloxi City Council to approve the city’s move from the Southern Building Code to the International Building Code during the council’s meeting Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

The move, which had been in the works before Hurricane Katrina, brings Biloxi in line with other communities across the country who have moved to the more uniform building code.

The 13 ordinances top an agenda of nearly 30 measures, including proposals involving condo development in west Biloxi.

To see the entire agenda and available resolutions, click here.


News and notes

St. Pat parade: The Hibernia Marching Society will stage its annual St. Patrick’s parade on Saturday at 2 p.m. . in downtown Biloxi

Webcasting: To listen to this week’s City Desk webcast, click here.

Public notice: The city’s debris removal teams will be focusing in the next few weeks on clearing debris from drainage systems and ditches that run across private property. In fact, to read a notice about the work, which is scheduled to appear in the Sun Herald Tuesday, click here.