State tax revenues up in July

Taxable sales kicked off the new fiscal year with a 4.1 percent increase over July 2005 - a total of $4.045 billion in tales during the month.

Clark County carried the load with an increase of 4.7 percent while Washoe County, which is normally strong in sales tax growth, fell 2.6 percent compared to the same month of last year.

Washoe wasn't alone.

Eight other counties also had negative numbers including Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey.

But Department of Taxation officials say that is partly because the numbers are being compared to a huge 12.6 percent increase in July 2005.

In Carson City, total taxable sales were down 3.1 percent to $86.8 million.

Sales in general merchandise stores dropped 36.5 percent to $11.9 million while motor vehicle parts and dealers sales - the capital's largest category - were off 9.6 percent to $31.3 million.

Douglas County also suffered, reporting an 8.7 percent drop in total sales to $68.4 million. There, a 48 percent drop in total motor vehicle sales to $3.6 million and a 21.4 percent cut in general merchandise sales to $7.5 million accounted for the majority of the decline.

Lyon County reported a 9 percent decrease to $32.4 million, and Churchill, a 13.1 percent increase to $29 million.

Storey was among the hardest hit with an 82.6 percent drop in reported sales. The drop follows a July 2005 report in which huge purchases were recorded in Storey in mining and at the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Park east of Reno.

Washoe County's numbers were down as well with $598.7 million in total taxable sales.

Clark County, with more than $2.9 billion in sales, was one of the bright spots.

Nevada's mining centers in Eureka and Humboldt counties reported huge increases from purchases by booming gold mines - a 60 percent jump for Humboldt and a nearly 236 percent climb for Eureka, home to the huge mines of the Carlin trend.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.

County sales tax revenue

County Taxable sales Change from 7/05

Statewide $4.045 billion 4.1%

Carson City $86.8 million -3.1%

Churchill $29 million 13.1%

Douglas $68.4 million -8.7%

Lyon $32.4 million -9%

Storey $4.2 million -82.6%

Washoe $598.8 million -2.6%

Clark County $2.93 billion 4.7%