The city of Flagstaff just wrapped up two days of a budget retreat. Staff still faces tough decisions about budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year. However, one positive sign of long term recovery may be reflected in the latest report of taxable sales.
City of Flagstaff taxable business activity for the month of November 2010 shows an increase of 6.9% over November of 2009.
Construction is up 17.7%.
Auto sales are up 42.8.
BBB is slightly down by 0.2%.
General Merchandise stores are up 10.2%.
Retail sales excluding auto, BBB, general merchandise stores and utilities are up 2.1%.
Year to date revenue from taxable business activity is up 1.8% through November 2010. Construction, Autos and General Merchandise sales contributed heavily to this increase. Wal-Mart opened during this reporting period.
City Manager Kevin Burke says he is thankful for the positive trend. “These are very positive numbers taking us in the right direction. We welcome Wal-Mart to our General Merchandise category and look forward to a full year of activity in Flagstaff. I apparently had something else I needed to be thankful for at Thanksgiving”, Burke said.
Five out of the last six months have been positive in comparison to the same month last year.