January sees solid increase in sales tax

Nevada businesses reported solid gains in taxable sales for January.

Statewide the total was up 6.6 percent over the same month of 2010 to just over $3 billion. In Carson City, the numbers were even better - up 9.7 percent to $51.5 million.

Food services and drinking places were up 6.9 percent and accommodations up 20 percent, indicating some recovery in the Southern Nevada tourism industry. Motor vehicle sales were up 12.5 percent statewide with double digit gains reported for clothing stores and wholesalers as well.

The big negative, as it has been for some three years, was construction industry categories, which were down 14.7 percent for the month.

Of Nevada's 17 counties, 14 reported increases in taxable sales for January.

The statewide increase followed an 8.1 percent decline in taxable sales in January 2010.

Through the first seven months of the fiscal year, the general fund portion of the sales tax was 2.8 percent ahead of the Economic Forum's projections - $12.4 million in the black.

In Carson City, the increase was largely attributable to solid gains in the capital's two largest categories. Motor vehicle sales were up 20.8 percent to $12.4 million. That number more than erased the 16.6 percent decline in car sales in January 2010. The difference, according to city Finance Director Nick Providenti, is at least partly the result of new car dealerships opened in the past year by Dick Campagni and Michael Hohl.

General merchandise sales were up 6.1 percent to $9.4 million this January, nearly offsetting a 9 percent drop in January 2010. Providenti said part of that increase is most likely the new Kohl's store opened in the past year.

Providenti said overall it was a very good month for the capital.

Douglas County didn't share in the gains, seeing its total taxable sales fall 3.2 percent in January to $39.5 million. That is on top of a 2.1 percent decline in January 2010.

Churchill County also was down, a 5.5 percent reduction in sales to $15.8 million on top of the 12.7 percent that county lost in January 2010.

Washoe County reported essentially flat numbers, up just three tenths of a percent to $374 million.

Statewide, taxable sales are up 5.1 percent through the first seven months of the fiscal year with a total of more than $23 billion in sales reported.