Working people — unless working in Congress — are well-aware that to continue to spend more than one takes in is a financial disaster. Working people know that when times are tough and the future is unclear, it is time to tighten the purse strings a bit; possibly downsize.

For the second straight month, sales tax collections turned over by the state to City of Vicksburg coffers have been down. Through June, city tax collections are down nearly $100,000 for the year. The shrinking numbers should give every resident and elected official pause.

The Mississippi River Flood, which saw floodwaters rise to a historic 57.1 feet at Vicksburg, certainly has taken its toll on tax collections. Businesses were forced to close and residents were moved out of their homes. The slow recession of water left a good part of the city and county saturated. The cleanup effort followed.

Low sales tax collections also can be traced to an overall economic malaise affecting the entire country. Unemployment in Mississippi is at 10.4 percent and above 9 percent nationally. A seesawing stock market shows volatility. Consumer spending — and confidence — are down. A sharp division between Congress and a president with plummeting approval numbers does not lead to confident spenders.

The prudent thing is to downsize.

Vicksburg Mayor Paul Winfield intimated as much in a story on Aug. 12. He pointed to both gaming and sales taxes being “below our estimates.”

In June, gaming revenues came in at $5.4 million, down from a projected $6.6 million. Sales tax collections in June were down 10.6 percent from May, which was down 7.4 percent lower than April’s collections.

The numbers don’t lie. The numbers show the time has come to pinch a little more, do with a little less and prepare.

Think of a hurricane as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean eyeing the Gulf of Mexico. Prudence says check emergency kits and have plenty of food and water on hand. Don’t wait for the storm to reach land before starting to prepare.

Consider the loss of tax collections over two months as a storm in the Atlantic. It could shift east — July tax collection numbers could skyrocket, or it could enter the Gulf — lower collections.

Either way, preparation will pay dividends in the long run.