Hohl auto deal approved by city

The city will keep a major auto dealer in Carson City for at least 20 years under a $4.8 million deal approved today.

Michael Hohl will keep his three auto dealerships and RV center in Carson City in exchange for an incentive that will help him build new locations for his $10 million to $12 million Honda and Subaru dealerships, and possibly a Chevrolet dealership, on South Carson Street.

If the problems of American car manufacturers hurt Hohl's Chevrolet dealership, he can remodel his General Motors dealership instead under the agreement.

The city plans to use the sales taxes raised by the dealerships to for pay the $4.8 million incentive. It could sell bonds to raise the money under the deal.

Hohl is one of two major auto dealers that helps generate about a third of the city's sales taxes. The city's general fund gets about 40 percent of its revenue through sales taxes.

The city's other major auto dealer, Dick Campagni, will keep his three dealerships in Carson City for 20 years under a $3.6 million incentive agreement amended in November. It was designed to help him build a new location on South Carson Street for his Toyota-Scion dealership.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.