No tax-free holiday for back-to-school shopping

Fortunately for area businesses, back-to-school shopping is a necessity, not a luxury.

But it's a necessity that will leave local parents digging deeper in their pockets this school year.

Florida's state legislature never authorized a back-to-school sales-tax holiday last legislative session.

"Of all the years, this is the year they should have had it," said Destin resident Paul Sisamis, who has friends that come in from Mississippi to take advantage of the holiday. "With the high price of gas I thought that would be a break for everybody."

Since 1998, the popular holiday gave parents a little break when buying clothing. School supplies were added to the list in 2001.
Last year's savings amounted to more than $46 million.

However, following the state's recent budget shortfalls, senate members were concerned about losing revenue.

Though the holiday was intended as an economic stimulus, area businesses said they shouldn't be hurting, because unlike some luxury items, kids need back-to-school items.

Wendy Ried, the floor team leader at Target in Mary Esther, hopes that the change won't negatively impact business.

"We've been fortunate enough to have a lot go guest come in early to shop," she said. "It seems like it's been a brisk year already."

Wal-mart representatives said they'll continue to offer lower prices in-house.

"Our plans are still to provide deep savings on the whole shopping basket - school supplies, apparel and electronics, even specific snacks and groceries," said Melissa O'Brien, from Wal-mart's Corporate Communications. "Tax free or not, we'll be aiming to provide our customers the best value, so they leave the store feeling good about saving money, not just on gas but on the many items their kids need."

With stores offerings sales items, some parents said it won't really make a difference.

"I never paid any attention to it," said mother April Hight, who home schools her two children.

Hight said she watches for sales throughout the year, which generally saves her more money than the tax holiday itself.

But over the year's, the holiday has been helpful for other area parents, like Shalimar resident Joshua Leblanc, in planning their back-to school shopping around the week.

"I don't like anything that costs more," Leblanc said.