Douglas taxable sales up for February

Douglas County saw a 1.8 percent increase in taxable sales during February, compared to last year.

County merchants took in $38.7 million during the month, which was $600,000 more than last year, which saw the lowest taxable sales for the month in five years.

So far the county is 10.7 percent behind last fiscal year in taxable sales.

In February 2008, county merchants did $51.2 million in sales, which was a slight increase over the same month in 2007. February has typically been one of the county's slowest sales months over the last few years.

The county's largest single category, food service and drinking places was down 7.4 percent to $8.97 million, reflecting the continuing slide of the Stateline casinos. Its second largest category, general merchandise stores was up 4.8 percent to $5.7 million during the month.

Driven by a large increase in auto sales, Carson City's taxable sales rose a bit in February. Overall, the capital posted a half-percent increase to $48.5 million.

"We're happy," said City Finance Director Nick Providenti.

Auto sales jumped 21 percent over February 2009 to $11.26 million.

General merchandise stores, the city's second largest tax generator, recorded a 6.3 percent decrease, to $9.4 million in sales.

Providenti said the numbers give at least some hope the bottom has been reached. He also pointed out that February was being compared to last February, when taxable sales fell 26 percent.

He said since 2006, Carson City's sales tax numbers are down about 37 percent but that, hopefully, the worst months are history.

"With the new car dealers coming on line and the opening of the Kohl's at the end of September, we're hoping there's light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

Statewide, sales were down 4.5 percent. But that too can be considered a hopeful sign - the third straight month of single digit decreases after 14 months of double-digit drops. Total taxable sales for the state were $2.8 billion.

Statewide, the recovery of auto sales were again part of the reason, increasing 8.2 percent.

In addition, accommodations - sales including hotel and motel rooms - were up 28 percent and, unlike in the capital, general merchandise stores were up 2.7 percent.

But taxable sales still are down 14 percent for the eight months of this fiscal year in Nevada.

Lyon also reported a big drop - 22.7 percent - and that's on top of the 25 percent drop in February 2009. The same occurred in Storey, which suffered a 35 percent dip on top of the previous year's 58 percent decline.