Haynie called November's numbers "disappointing." In a prepared statement, she says that "while collections this November matched collections for last November, please remember that collections last November were down 25% from November 2000." October's collections were up 30% from October 2001.

The monthly tax collection numbers are watched closely by hotel developers and investors as a barometer of the area's industry health. The revenue comes from a 5% tax added to each hotel and motel room occupancy. The bulk of the money is used to pay down debt on the $750 million, one-million-sf expansion of the Orange County Convention Center. The center hopes to be at 2.2 million sf of exhibition/meeting space this quarter.

Orange County collected $91.6 million in 2002; $104.8 million in 2001; and $108.2 million in 2000, its best year since the tourist development tax began in 1979.