This holiday has become ever more popular in the last few years, and why not? It saves money at a time when family expenses can pile up with the cost of getting students ready to return to school.
Other cities — Sylacauga, Childersburg and Pell City — have also declared a sales tax holiday, so shoppers everywhere will have the opportunity to save a few dollars.
This year, with tax receipts already behind in some areas, the sales tax holiday could have a significant affect on city revenues. But the good this tax holiday does far outweighs any shortfall of funds.
While municipal and state governments are hurting for tax receipts, some of their citizens are hurting even worse. They have been through layoffs, and have had trouble finding replacement jobs. In many cases, the replacement doesn’t pay nearly as well as the original job. That means families have to make do with less, and that means a sales tax holiday is especially meaningful and helpful.
It is important that families and merchants alike familiarize themselves with the list of what is tax exempt and what is not. This tax holiday doesn’t apply across the board. It only applies to legitimate purchases that are required for students who are returning to school.
Even with the restrictions, however, the savings can be substantial. We encourage local parents to do their shopping that weekend and take advantage of the sales tax holiday.
