By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Alabaster’s sales tax collections so far this year are slightly topping last year’s collections, he city’s mayor said during a May 27 state of the city address.

Mayor Marty Handlon gave City Council members an update on the city’s economy, projects and future plans during the May 27 meeting, and said several future projects could help to strengthen the city’s tax collections moving forward.

So far this year, the city has seen a rise of about 2 percent in its sales tax collections over 2013, although its business license collections are slightly below projections, Handlon said.

This year has seen the opening of the new Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the South Promenade shopping center, and will see the opening of a new Panda Express restaurant in the same shopping center.

Handlon said several developers are considering “new developments along all major corridors of the city,” but said she could not yet share any details on the possible developments. Several retailers have completed “several million in renovations” this year, she said.

This year also has brought an expansion in Alabaster’s Shelby West Corporate Park, and Handlon said there are “opportunities for new growth” in the Dunn Corporate Park.

“Our area has been identified as a regional hub for state automakers and transportation fleets,” Handlon said.

Handlon praised the Alabaster City School System’s first year of operations, and said the School System finished the year with “a lot of momentum” after announcing the location for its new high school.

This year also has seen a rise in new home building permits compared to the past few years, Handlon said. The Buck Creek Trail extension is slated to begin this summer, and improvements to the intersection of Alabama 119 and Shelby County 80 are currently under construction, Handlon said.

This summer also will bring the city’s first farmers’ market to the Buck Creek Trail, Handlon said.