Sales tax holiday in Georgia no more for 2017
Hoping to go to Walmart this coming weekend for some sweet deals? Better reconsider those plans.
Polk citizens won't be saving 7 percent on back to school supplies this Summer thanks to news that Georgia has abolished its annual tax-free weekend.
While back- to- school shoppers typically waited until the holiday to purchase their supplies, clothes, and computers, Georgians may be scheduling a visit to neighboring states Alabama or Tennessee for discount shopping instead.
This year the 16 states t hat offered t ax- f ree weekends were Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Georgia itself has a 4 percent sales tax; Polk County sports a 7 percent sales tax. This meant in prior years Polk residents were receiving a discount of 7 percent off every article of clothing, each computer, various notebooks, packs of pencil, packs of pen, binders, and packs of paper they purchased.
The state decided against that plan this year as lawmakers found not enough support to continue the idea meant to help parents save money for supplies for students.
State Rep. Trey Kelley said that it's a noble idea which didn't make much actual sense, since the cost of items were about the same as normal.
"After careful consideration the legislature ultimately decided not to renew the sales tax "holiday." There i s broad based research t hat shows the sales tax "holiday" doesn't work for the state or consumers," Kel- ley wrote in a statement about the issue over the weekend before press time. "The decision puts us one step closer to cutting income taxes for all Georgians instead."
Meanwhile, Alabama's tax-free weekend sports discounts on school supplies, computers, clothes, and books. Tennessee's tax-free weekend included tax exemption on the same goods Georgia once did.
Georgia Budget and Policy Group research director Wesley Tharpe has states that the tax- free weekend results in "losses of $70 million in State and local taxes."
The idea is that a portion of that $70 million in tax revenue would go towards public schools and communities in need. Consumers however would argue that the $70 million in tax revenue is being put back into the school system by way of cheaper school supplies, and with neighboring states Tennessee and Alabama offering tax-free weekends, s hoppers claim those states will steal a lot of would- be Georgia revenue.
In light of this situation, various Polk residents have shared their opinion about the Peach State doing away with the taxfree weekend.
Ken Boatner expressed that he would like to see Georgia bring back the holiday.
"It ' s unfai r, " sa i d Boatner. "I would rather go to Alabama to get supplies. Many families budget and plan in advance for the tax-free weekend, and when they take away a tradition such as this, some families have trou- ble adjusting."
Connie Floyd said she would rather "stay and buy local" because "I would spend more in gas just getting there than I would save in taxes."
"Besides, I support local businesses and I'm not against putting some taxes back into the community," she added. "The taxes should help strengthen the schools too."
Jean Bentley is a family services worker of 28 years and showed disapproval towards the taxfree weekend being taken away.
"I would rather go to Alabama or Tennessee, frankly. It would save me money. You'd be surprised how much 7 percent can add up in the long run."
Raylene Darwell has several grandchildren and is more than "willing to drive to a neighboring state to get my grandkids school supplies. Georgia should have had a taxfree holiday, simple as that."
John Poulin is "in support of local businesses" and will "shop local regardless of the tax-free holiday."
"I'm happy to see that money come back to the community. Besides, the state and the town lose more than 7 percent if you shop somewhere else," Poulin said.
Georgia citizens are evidently not against traveling for the tax- free weekend.
Alabama and Tennessee are minutes away from some parts of the state, and whether because of a frugal nature or spite, Georgians seem determined to save on sales tax.
While the taxes collected from back to school shopping do amount to a whopping $ 70 million, who knows how much more currency could be circulating if citizens had a visible, clear incentive to shop locally? The taxfree weekend was once that incentive.
Is the tax-free weekend something that should be re-established or should citizens be expected to shop locally no matter what? Tell us your comments by dropping a Letter to the Edi to r b y e mai l to kmyrick@npco.com, by fax at 770-748-1524 or deliver it by mail to 213 Main St., Cedartown, Ga., 30125.