Scott signs tax holidays for supplies

Certain storm, school items listed

Gov. Rick Scott signed a $180 million tax cut bill Thursday that includes two sales tax holidays that are right around the corner.

Next weekend, June 2-4, a three-day emergency preparedness sales tax holiday means ice, batteries, first-aid kits, gas tanks, coolers and generators will be tax free. The sales-tax holiday is expected to save Floridians $4.5 million.

From Aug. 4-6, a school supply sales-tax holiday will include clothing, shoes, wallets, handbags and backpacks that cost $60 or less. Computers that cost less than $750 and school supplies, such as pens, pencils, binders and lunch boxes that cost less than $15 are also included. The sales-tax holiday is estimated to save Floridians $33.4 million.

The so-called ‘tampon tax’ was eliminated with Scott’s signature. Starting in January, taxeswon’t be charged on feminine hygiene products such as tampons and pads. That’s expected to save Floridians about $11million a year.

Scott has cut taxes each year he has been in office. “With this year, over $6.7 billion,” he said.

This was the first time he cut the taxonbusinesses’ rent. Florida is the only state to have such a tax, andit has long been a target for the governor. The 0.2-percent cut is expected to cost the state $61 million in revenue.

Property tax cuts for some lowincome housing projects and assistedliving facilities areprojected to cost another $32.7 million.

“It’s a good day for Florida because we cut taxes again,” Scott said.

The bill signing took place at 3Cinteractive, a mobile marketing company in Boca Raton that provides text messaging, interactive coupons, push notifications and other mobile-based marketing services.

The company’s headquarters has a youth-driven aesthetic, with corrugated metal walls and a row of motorcycles lining a hallway.

“It has very interesting offices,” Scott said beneath rows of electric guitars hanging from the wall. “I’ve never seen offices like this before.”

The company employs more than 80 people, and Scott pointed to it as the sort of tech-driven businesses his jobs-focused administration has sought to bring to Florida.

Scott gave co-founder andCOO