Auto sales boost tax numbers 11 percent in Carson

A big jump in auto sales lifted Carson City's taxable sales numbers 11 percent in September, over September 2009.

Carson Finance Director Nick Providenti said part of the year-over-year jump is because auto sales in September 2009 - the month after the federal "Cash for Clunkers" program ended - were so poor.

That program drove buyers to car dealerships, boosting sales in the two month period before September but, effectively, leaving no demand in September or October of 2009.

But Providenti also credited new dealerships opened by Michael Hohl and Dick Campagni for the 33 percent increase in auto sales this September.

Auto sales, Carson's largest category, totaled $13.56 million for the month.

In addition, he said Kohl's opened in September this year and, "we didn't have anything closing."

He said he expects October also to be a good month for the capital.

"Hopefully we're turning the corner," he said.

Because of the Cash for Clunkers effect, statewide auto sales were up 15 percent in September, helping the state record a 2.1 percent increase to $3.24 billion in taxable sales for the month.

Likewise, Providenti said Carson City is 2.38 percent ahead of projections used to build the budget and, if the trend continues through the year, will end up more than $440,000 in the black.

In addition to auto sales, Carson general merchandise stores were up 8.5 percent to $10.5 million and building materials rose 4.9 percent to $5.4 million.

Total sales for the capital were $60.5 million in September.

Douglas County didn't fare as well, reporting a 2.2 percent decline in total sales for the month to $46.97 million. There, too, auto sales were up dramatically - 33 percent to $2.2 million.

But Douglas's biggest sales tax generator, food and drink places, mainly the Stateline casinos, were down 13.7 percent to just over $10 million.

In Storey County, September's sales were up 21.6 percent to $4.6 million. The biggest increases were in categories generated by the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Center.

Altogether, 11 of Nevada's 17 counties were up, and up enough to more than offset the near 1 percent decline in Clark County sales. Washoe helped with a 2.5 percent increase to $454.3 million.