Extra day in February helps Nevada taxable sales

Wednesday, April 19, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The extra day in February this leap year helped Nevada post a strong showing in taxable sales for the month -- up 7.9 percent from a year ago.

It was the biggest percentage gain since the 8.1 percent registered in September 1999.

The state Department of Taxation reported Tuesday taxable sales reached $2.2 billion --largely fueled by car sales and business in bars and restaurants.

Earlier Nevada casinos reported their gross revenues were up 13.9 percent for February, indicating it was a good month for most segments of the industry.

Even though there was a general good economy, seven small rural counties posted declines in their taxable sales. But sales in Clark County rose to $1.6 billion, up 8 percent and the best showing in the last four months.

Washoe County registered a 9 percent increase in taxable sales, the top performance in the last eight months. Business in Carson City was up 2.6 percent; Elko County rose 13.1 percent and Douglas County posted an increase of 19.1 percent.

The biggest declines were in Esmeralda County, off 42.8 percent; White Pine County, down 34.8 percent and Pershing County, down 22.7 percent.

Assistant Taxation Director P. Forest (Woody) Thorne said statewide "Eating and drinking places continued strong." There was a 21.5 percent increase in taxable sales in these businesses. In Clark County they were up 24.4 percent and by 10.8 percent in Washoe County.

Sale of autos jumped 23.1 percent statewide but building construction fell by 17.6 percent, partly due to the completion of several of the major hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. In Clark County, the building construction category fell by 30.6 percent.

Thorne said statewide miscellaneous retail sales rose 11.5 percent; general merchandise stores were up 9.4 percent and apparel and accessory stores increased 16.5 percent.

In Clark County, auto sales jumped by 22 percent; apparel and accessory store sales rose 16.9 percent and general merchandise sales increased 10.3 percent. But home furnishings dropped 1.8 percent in sales and building materials and hardware fell 2.8 percent.

For the first eight months of the fiscal year, taxable sales statewide were up 6.7 percent to $18.1 billion. In Clark County the sales were running 7.4 percent ahead of last year with the total so far at $13.7 billion. Washoe County has posted $3.2 billion in taxable sales, up 6.1 percent for the fiscal year.