Clark County spurs big jump in statewide taxable sales

Thursday, March 21, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Resurging business in Clark County helped push the taxable sales in Nevada in January to its highest gain in the last 22 months.

The state Taxation Department reported Wednesday that sales reached $1.6 billion, up 18.9 percent from January 1995. Clark County's sales accounted for $1.1 billion of that total, an increase of 21.4 percent.

The statewide gain is the largest since sales increased 19.6 percent in March 1994. And Clark County's gain is also the largest since that month, when sales jumped 24.8 percent.

Automotive sales continued strong, up 30 percent from a year ago. And purchases on "big ticket items" were up, Taxation Department Director Michael Pitlock said.

The department said sales of building materials and hardware jumped by 38.8 percent statewide. The industrial and commercial machinery business was up 35.3 percent and home furniture and furnishings reported a gain of 17.5 percent.

One slow area was eating and drinking businesses, which were up only 3.3 percent statewide. In Clark County, the bar and restaurant business registered a 3 percent gain.

Pitlock said Washoe County continued its steady pace, reporting $286.5 million, up 14.2 percent. Its restaurant and bar business jumped by 9 percent, in part due to the Silver Legacy which opened last summer. For the seven months of this fiscal year, Washoe County's taxable sales are up 13.1 percent.

The department reported that taxable sales in Carson City jumped 17.5 percent to $41.4 million and Douglas County taxable sales rose 21.5 percent to $29.2 million.

Money Magazine reported in its latest edition that Elko, Fallon and Winnemucca were among "America's 50 Hottest Little Boomtowns."

In January's taxable sales, Elko County registered a 3.5 percent drop. Humboldt County, with Winnemucca as the county seat, was up 19.2 percent. Churchill County, where Fallon is the biggest city, rose 5.8 percent.