State tax numbers up, but Carson flat in December

Taxable sales totals for Nevada increased 17.4 percent in December as 14 of Nevada's 17 counties reported double-digit increases over sales for the same month of 2003.

But Carson City and Douglas County businesses didn't share in the wealth. The capital was flat - reporting an increase of only seven-tenths of a percent - while Douglas turned in an increase of 3.9 percent.

The capital's biggest categories - auto sales and general merchandise - were both up a little bit while several construction and specialty categories were down slightly. As a result, total taxable sales increased from just under $90 million to $90.5 million for the month.

In Douglas, the story was similar as the revenues at eating and drinking places decreased slightly while the other major taxable sales category, general merchandise stores, grew just enough to offset that decrease. Overall, total sales in Douglas rose from $74.4 million to $77.3 million.

Statewide, businesses reported sales totaling $4.2 billion to close out 2004, with Christmas buying much improved over the previous year.

With the continuing economic boom, the state now has an increase of 15.5 percent over the first half of the fiscal year.

Across the state, huge gains were reported in rural areas where the mining industry was making a strong comeback amid rising gold prices.

The biggest increase reported was in Storey County, where sales rose from $3.3 million in December 2003 to $13.6 million this past December - more than 317 percent. The big difference was again mining as taxable sales tied directly to the industry went from zero to nearly $8.6 million this past December, accompanied by large jumps in related categories.

Eureka County's increase was more than 77 percent, Elko County's 25 percent, 147 percent in Lander County and 81 percent in White Pine County. Across rural Nevada, counties reported huge increases in mining equipment, special construction, chemical products and industrial equipment sales.

The renewed economic strength of mining also powered healthy increases in retail sales and related categories throughout.

In Mineral County, the story was also about the mining industry - but in the opposite direction, as taxable sales tied directly to mining dropped more than $400,000, driving a 14.1 percent decrease in taxable sales. Mineral was the only county with a negative compared to the previous year.

Nevada's largest counties did well, with Clark reporting $3.1 billion in sales for an 18.7 percent increase, and Washoe reporting $647.6 million - a 10.7 percent jump. Eating and drinking places in Nevada turned in an 18.6 percent statewide increase, and auto dealers and gasoline sales were up 19.5 percent.

Christmas sales showed up in miscellaneous retail gains - 17.2 percent - and general merchandise - 11.1 percent- as well as other retail categories.

Building materials and hardware sales were up 25.4 percent as the economic boom continued, especially in Southern Nevada.

Because of the economic boom, sales tax collections were $313.7 million for December - a 21 percent increase. Sales tax collections are now $27.7 million above the Economic Forum forecast for the first six months of the fiscal year.

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

Sales Tax revenues

• Carson City sales tax revenues rose 7Ú10 of a percent for a total of $90.5 million in sales.

• Douglas County sales tax revenues rose 3.9 percent for a total of $77.3 million in sales.

• Lyon County sales tax revenues rose 13.5 percent for a total of $30.9 million in sales.

• Storey County sales tax revenues rose 317 percent for a total of $13.6 million in sales.

• Statewide sales tax revenues rose 17.4 percent for a total of $4.2 billion in sales.