Kalona and Riverside continue to lead Washington County in taxable retail sales, according to the annual report for fiscal l998 (ending March 31, l998) as compiled by the Iowa Department of Revenue & Finance.

Kalona had a taxable retail sales increase of $1,600,441 with sales of $22,616,027 or 7.62 percent over l997 sales of $21,015,586. That leads the county in total sales gained.

Riverside leads the county in percentage of gain with an increase of 13.92 percent for total sales of $2,734,100. This is an increase of $334,178 for fiscal l997.

Washington, Wellman, Brighton and Ainsworth all report decreases in taxable retail sales for the year. Washington had a decrease of 2.59 per cent or $1,737,928 to $65,317,007.

Wellman fell $137,102 or 1.33 per cent to sales of $10,166,447. Ainsworth fell 13.28 percent or $232,912 to $1,520,401. Brighton had a decline of 6.26 per cent or 121,509 to $1,820,012.

Crawfordsville with a hike of 3.85 per cent or $38,546 to $1,040,063, is the only other community to have an increase.

As a whole, Washington County experienced a decrease of $471,170 or .42 per cent to $111,302,487 for fiscal l998. A one percent local option sales tax would have brought in $1,113,025.

Of the area communities, on the following showed increases: Hills, Sigourney, West Branch and North Liberty had increases. Lone Tree, West Liberty, Durant, Wilton, Keota, Marengo, Solon and Wayland all saw taxable retail sales tax decreases.