Nevada taxable sales up 15 percent for June

Taxable sales finished the fiscal year with a 15 percent increase in June - a total of $3.58 billion.

That puts total taxable sales in the state up 12.8 percent over fiscal 2003 to a total of $38.2 billion.

The boom was led by building materials and hardware sales which rose 35.8 percent in June. Auto dealers and gas sales turned in a 12.5 percent increase for the month.

The increase was 16.4 percent in Clark County, 13.9 percent for the fiscal year, and 11.1 percent in Washoe, 9.5 percent for the year. Clark accounted for $28 billion of the total state sales and Washoe for another $6 billion - all but $4 billion of taxable sales in Nevada during the year.

Carson City, however, did not share in the June wealth, reporting a 2.4 percent decrease in total sales to $77.2 million. The capital did better over the course of the year - up 5.8 percent to $913.4 million.

Pershing and Eureka were the only other counties down in June. Only Lincoln County was down for the year.

Douglas County did much better than most and better than Carson City - 18.1 percent up in June to $74.3 million and $750.9 million for the year - 15.6 percent.

Churchill County reported $23.4 million in sales for the month, 13.9 percent, and $240.3 million for the year, 7.7 percent.

Lyon County reported $32.4 million in June sales and $323 million for the year - up 6.4 percent for June and 16.9 percent for the year.

The General Fund portion of sales taxes ended the fiscal year 8.46 percent - or $60 million - above the Economic Forum projections used to build the state budget.

"I could not be more pleased with these figures," said Gov. Kenny Guinn. "As other states struggle, Nevada continues to thrive."

Contact Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or at 687-8750.