By Staff
I will be out of the state of Alabama before the stores open Saturday morning and won't return until Monday morning - just in time to miss most of Alabama's sales tax holiday.
And don't think my husband isn't thrilled.
I think shopping is a great excuse for a holiday - and while I won't be able to take part in most of it, I hope all of you will.
The sales tax holiday is designed to give parents a break as they stock up on school supplies for the coming year.
So that means pencils, pens, loose-leaf paper, crayons, backpacks, glue, folders and just about everything else on the school supply lists printed in our Lifestyle section today are exempt from sales tax, as long as the item is $50 or less.
The only sales tax that will be charged in Escambia County is a 1-cent county tax. Brewton and East Brewton are both taking part in the sales tax holiday.
While it's disappointing that Escambia County commissioners opted not to take part, at least that 1 cent sales tax is going toward education - so if you're buying school supplies, you're helping local schools, too.
What's also important as this weekend approaches is that we shop at home for the sales tax holiday.
Area stores are gearing up for the big sale - some are staying open extended hours, and Peebles, which has replaced B.C. Moore's, is holding its grand opening Thursday, just in time for the sale.
Shopping at local stores helps keep our money in our community, even without the heavy sales tax benefit for local municipalities.
Besides, since I won't be around to shop, someone's got to pick up the slack.
Kerry Whipple Bean is publisher of The Brewton Standard. She can be reached at 867-4876 or by e-mail at kerry.bean@brewtonstandard.com.