By Staff
City, county should join in tax holiday
An Alabama governor and legislature have finally put their words into action and enacted a law that offers taxpayers a break on back-to-school purchases.
What the law does is exempts purchasers of certain school supplies from paying the state's 4 percent sales tax on the weekend of Aug.4-6 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and on each following first weekend in August in subsequent years.
The tax-free holiday was proposed by Gov. Bob Riley and unanimously endorsed by both the state house and senate. It applies to purchases of clothing up to $100 per item, computers, software and computer supplies up to $750 per item, school supplies and textbooks up to $50 per item and all other books up to $30 each.
This means substantial savings for families that spend several hundred dollars to get their children back into school each fall.
For example, a $100 pair of shoes would cost $100, not $104, and a $500 PC would cost $500, not $520.
The purpose of the tax-free holiday is not only to give taxpayers a break but also to give them the incentive to buy their back-to-school supplies at home. Several other states, including Georgia and Tennessee, already have tax-free holidays tied into the back-to-school shopping season.
Now that the state has acted, it's time for county and municipal governments to follow suit.
Think what a difference it would make if the Hartselle City Council and Morgan County Commission would declare a tax-free holiday on their 3 percent and 1 percent sales taxes, respectively. What about it mayors, council members and commissioners?
What do you think? Should local cities and counties join in the tax holiday? Send your thoughts to P.O. Box 929, Hartselle, AL 35640 or email to news@hartselleenquirer.com. Signed comments can be included as Letters to the Editor; unsigned ones in our E-Sound Off.