Taxable sales show split
BY STU MERRY
BHG News
Taxable sales statistics for McLean County reveal a mixed bag for the fourth quarter of 2016.
Third quarter taxable sales figures for Garrison were down -26.97 percent. Fast forward to the months of October, November and December and information by the North Dakota State Tax Department show taxable sales in Garrison were among the highest in the state for increases – up +28.77 percent.
On the flip side, Washburn’s taxable sales fell nearly -13 percent for the fourth quarter. That’s compared to an -11 percent drop for the third quarter.
Combined, taxable sales in McLean County were up a modest +3.79 percent.
County Auditor Les Korgel speculates any number of things could account for the huge swing. He said his first guess would be farm machinery sales before the end of the year.
“Another possibility would be a payment was made for a construction project that was in progress … but it would be hard to tell where the actual change is,” he said.
