El Campo and East Bernard saw significant drops in their sales tax rebates for January. El Campo’s rebate fell by nearly $120,000, a 23.76% decrease from the previous year. Despite the conservative budget, City Manager Courtney Sladek urged locals to shop locally to help stabilize the economy. Wharton saw a minor increase of 0.96%, receiving $248,437, while Wharton County’s rebate decreased slightly by 1.90% to $352,474. East Bernard faced a 16.71% decline, receiving $59,423. Supporting local businesses is crucial to economic recovery.