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StumbleTaxable sales in Clark County plummet 26 percent
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 | 11:19 a.m.
Sun Coverage
CARSON CITY – Taxable sales in Clark County slumped 26.1 percent in August, the biggest decline recorded in the current economic downturn.
The state Taxation Department said this was the 12th straight month of lower taxable revenues in the county.
Statewide, the sales fell by 24.1 percent, the highest in the last 12 months.
But the department said about $263 million in taxable sales in August 2008 was reported under the amnesty program. “Without the reported amnesty, statewide taxable sales would have posted an 18.6 percent decrease for August 2009,” the department said.
Gov. Jim Gibbons said the figures show people and businesses have continued to feel the effects of the recession. “The administration continues to monitor and plan for the effects of the impaired housing market, sluggish consumer spending and the overall condition of the economy,” the governor said.
The department said collections from the sales and use tax are 1.1 percent, or $9.3 million, below the forecast made in May by the Economic Forum for the first two months of fiscal 2010.
This will be one item considered when the governor decides whether to convene a special session of the Legislature. He has said he wants to see the figures in October and November before making a decision.
Hardest hit in Clark County were the sales of building materials and furniture, which reflects the downturn in construction activity.
The department said the sale of building materials fell 34.8 percent, the biggest drop in the last 10 months. Furniture sales in Clark County were down 41.7 percent.
The restaurant and bar businesses reported a 9.5 percent decline in taxable sales in August. Car sales dropped 17.7 percent, the biggest decline since July 2008, when business fell 9.6 percent.
Sale of clothing fell by 15.3 percent and general merchandise business was down to 9.8 percent in Clark County.
The department said Washoe County sales fell by 18.1 percent and Carson City was down 15.4 percent.
The department said the largest increases in taxable sales statewide were in heavy and civil engineering construction, up 46.6 percent. And taxable sales rose by 63.9 percent in the performing arts, spectator sports and related industries category.
Fifteen of the state's 17 counties recorded a decrease in taxable sales. Businesses in Lincoln County reported a 1.5 percent increase compared to August 2008. Mineral County reported a gain of 17.6 percent.
The biggest declines were recorded in Storey County at 57.9 percent and Esmeralda County at 52.9 percent.
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"Las Vegas"
THE NEW "DETROIT" OF THE "DESERT"
"Clark County"
NOT MUCH BETTER
Clark County......
Building materials fell 34.8 percent
Furniture sales down 41.7 percent
Restaurant and bar businesses decline 9.5 percent
Car sales dropped 17.7 percent
Clothing sales fell 15.3 percent
General merchandise business down to 9.8 percent
The good news on the economy and the stimulus plans just keeps on coming in. I wonder when the current leaders in our Congress will admit they were wrong and start cutting spending instead of continuing to run programs destroying the nations business community.
harry Reid, wake up, it isn't health care, or cap and trade, or payoffs to your union backers.
It's the economy , stupid.
100% agreement with neiman1.
"The state Taxation Department said this was the 12th straight month of lower taxable revenues in the county."
And how many government agencies have been closed as a result?
: )
Sounds like those big tax increases our democratic legislature passed are really working....NOT.
Time to cut the OVER SPENDING IN EDUCATION
And the hits just keep on coming! Thank the idiots in the Legs for raising the sales tax and business tax... that sure was a good idea to get people to spend more money here in Nevada!!!! How's is that hope and change working out for you schmucks now, huh???
This just in!
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct...
US Airways cutting 1,000 jobs, reducing Vegas flights. "The airline will close crew bases at the Las Vegas airport". "It is trimming Las Vegas flights from 64 departures per day to 36"
This is reaching critical mass now. When City Center begins laying off people (and you just know they will), the mass exodus will begin. Vegas is past desperation at this point. The problem is beyond gaming. We have ineffectual leadership on all levels of government, incompetent business "leaders" in the private sector, and no one smart or innovative enough to come up with any sort of plan or solution. Everyone can complain on what the problem is, but has anyone offered a solution? Sure it is nice to say we need to diversify the economy, but how? Listening to politicians who are uneducated and frankly too dumb to manage a single thing is definitely not the answer. As a Native Las Vegan it pains me to say this - my hometown is done! The looting from foreigners, investors, and speculators will begin en masse in the coming months.
I'd expect City Center to be laying-off workers within 6-months of opening.
Solutions begin with removal of business prohibitives such as regulations, taxes, fees etc.
: )
It amazes me that these reporters and economists are always amazed at the numbers whent he reports come in...HELLO ??? No one is working, people are loosing their homes (us included) because of the economy (or lack there of)...GOVERNMENTstil ldoesnt get it, but yet to make their ends meet, they just raise taxes..ggeezz, like we'll pay you too !!!
Oh, please, what's the problem, people? Just raise taxes! It works every time, as we all know, plus it has the added benefit of sticking it to those who have it coming to them, anyway.
Anyway, unless it's food or gas (or something I HAVE to have at the Fashion Show Mall or some such other place and I can't it get elsewhere), I NEVER buy locally. I avoid that stupid sales tax at all costs and do my shopping on the Internet.
Well Folks we'll just have to pay more TAXES to help everyone out !!
wait until the state legislature begins planning on a state income tax! old steve wynn will tear his hair out; of course they'll put it in right after the elections. its the only way they have to keep their phony baloney jobs.
taxable sales will go up with the illegals now getting welfare....or wait...they will probably mail the money home.
>Solutions begin with removal of business prohibitives such as regulations, taxes, fees etc.
sure 'nuff --- I mean what could go wrong?
Oh ya --- and we'd need another war to plunder lives and treasure on to really help move things along.
The next Anasazi ruin.
vegas IS done.
there's no escaping that fact now. it's on a downward spiral that has so much further to go that it's going to be a very scary town before it ever gets better, if it DOES ever get better.
the next thing will be all the city center construction workers leaving town.
then about 3 months after the opening they will start laying people off.
Stevem is right. This place is looking at 2-3 years at the VERY LEAST of bad times. A safer bet would be 5+ years.
If you think it's bad now, just wait another year. Just watch the traffic at McCarran continue to drop and drop & you can see where things are going.
It's all over ! Vegas is history! sell the house ! Sell the kids! Sell the dog! while their at it.. sell me a ticket to the World Series!