Taxable sales showed a modest increase statewide for the month of September (the most recent month for which sales tax collections are available). Eleven of Nevada's 17 counties recorded an increase in taxable sales for Sept. 2014. The 4 percent increase statewide wasn't enough to equal Economic Forum projections which forecast an additional $2.35 million for the fiscal year, which began in July.
Clark County, at +6 percent, led the 11 counties which showed increases in sales tax collections. Pershing +12.8 percent, Lander +27 percent, and Elko County +3.1 percent were also among those showing increases in taxable sales over the same month last year.
The overall September increase in Lander County taxable sales was led by increases in utilities, manufacturing and real estate sales.
Pershing County's September increase was led by increases in taxable sales in the categories of specialty trade contractors, performing arts and spectator, sports and related industries, and miscellaneous manufacturing.
Humboldt County recorded a hefty decrease of 38.2 percent. That is one of the larger decreases over the past months, although not as large as the 44.3 percent decrease recorded for July 2014 compared to July 2013.
Although the downward trend was broken by a couple of months in the plus column, Humboldt County taxable sales were down 10 of 12 months over the prior fiscal year and have been down all three months of FY 2014-2015 said County Administrator Bill Deist.
Nevada Department of Taxation's latest report shows Humboldt County's taxable sales decrease amounts to a total -39.8 percent year-to-date. In actual sales, that means over $100 million less has been spent July through September this year on items from which sales tax is collected.
Property tax - another large revenue source used to provide county services, is also down, due to the decreases in net proceeds of mines, which is considered a property tax. Deist noted that the audit will show significant decreases in county revenue.
Year-to-date, Humboldt County has decreased 31.94 percent in comparison to last year.
Although Lander, Pershing and Elko Counties showed one-month increases for Sept. 2014 compared to Sept. 2013 the uptick wasn't enough to bring year-to-date sales up to last year's totals. Over the first three months of FY 2014-2015, Lander County taxable sales have decreased 22.68 percent, Pershing County taxable sales have decreased 17.9 percent, and Elko County sales have decreased .6 percent.
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