Tech firm's stock slammed as budget crises crimp revenue. (Optical Data Systems Inc.)

Unless you count on a federal paycheck every week, the federal government shutdowns may not have had much impact.

But the budget crisis has put a dent in one Richardson company's fourth quarter.

Optical Data Systems Inc., which makes computer networking equipment, has watched net sales grow from $32 million in 1990 to more than $86 million in 1994. But the fourth quarter of 1995 was tricky for Optical Data. Between 30% and 35% of its business is with the federal government.

Shutdowns in the fall delayed federal defense appropriations, hurting the company's stock. President Clinton signed the appropriations measure Dec. 1.

Optical Data is traded on …