Abatements take chunk out of taxable sales

June’s taxable sales for Nevada showed an increase of 1.6 percent over May but because of tax abatements, Churchill County figures revealed a steep drop from the same reporting time one year ago.

Taxable sales for June fell 40.1 percent from $42.3 million to $25.3 million.

“The decrease in taxable sales is due to the tax abatement given in the prior year where no sales taxes were paid,” said Churchill County Comptroller Alan Kalt. “Hence, you can have a reduction in taxable sales and an increase in collections.”

Year-to-date taxable sales show a decrease of $5.5 million to $261 million.

Prior legislation approved by the Legislature granted tax rebate status to alternative energy and other businesses. Consequently, Kalt said the drop came in Food Manufacturing because in May 2015, the category showed $22 million. Taxable sales fell to $80,952.

Kalt, though, said other areas showed solid increases such as Machinery Manufacturing, up 110 percent to $221,008; Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods, up 121 percent to $2.2 million; and Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies, up 206 percent to $5.6 million.

Kalt said Food Services and Drinking Places had a 360 percent improvement to $2.5 million.

Other areas showing modest gains included Sporting Goods, up 4.4 percent to $173,403; Gasoline Station, up 42 percent to $247,214; and General Merchandise, 1.8 percent increase to $3.7 million.

Ten of Nevada’s 17 counties recorded an increase while Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Mineral, Storey and White Pine recorded a decrease in addition to Churchill.

For the month, neighboring Lyon County rose 6.5 percent in May from $31.3 million to $33.3 million.

Overall, though, Lyon is down 5.2 percent for the fiscal year that began July 1. Current taxable sales are at $342 million.

Statewide, the largest increases were recorded by Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers, up 9.4 percent; Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies, up 11.0 percent; Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores, up 24.3 percent; Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services, up 96.3 percent; and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, up 30.8 percent.

Compared to the May 2015 Economic Forum projections and based on Department analysis, the General Fund portion of the sales and use taxes is approximately 2.10 percent or $21.04 million below the Economic Forum forecast for fiscal year 2016 through the May period.