Benefits of the Eagle Ford Shale reach much farther than the drilling rigs. Corpus Christi is realizing a 12% increase in tax revenues year over year and areas in the heart of development are seeing increases several times greater.

George West in Live Oak County, for example, received a monthly allocation of more than $57,000, which is 56 percent higher than December 2010's payment.

 

Through the December payment, George West is up 54 percent with more than $616,000, figures show.

Beeville's monthly allocation increased about 40 percent over December 2010, and the city is up 26 percent in collections with about $3.4 million.

Alice, away from the heart of drilling activity in Jim Wells County, continues to enjoy the retail and other side benefits of drilling as hotels are built and stores expand.

Alice's allocations top $15.3 million, which is 44 percent higher than by the same time in 2010.