Is Georgia Too Generous Now With Sales Tax Holiday?

Augusta, GA—Gwen Rouse had a buggy full of savings; she was all done shopping after rushing to the K-Mart on Gordon Highway in Augusta to take advantage of the state tax free holiday on school supplies and accessories. “I didn’t want to miss it I was trying to get out here as soon as I could which was right after I got off work so I could save a little,” she said.

With two kids in school, Erica Sinclair was also trying to save a little, she says every penny counts in these tough times. ‘It’s very important times are hard everything has gone up so I need to save money where I can,” she said.

Debra Pitts had her sights set on buying school supplies for her two grandsons. “I’m shopping for bargains today no sales tax you can’t go wrong,” she said.

But, everything is not right, when it comes to Pitts; she’s a Teachers Assistant, for Richmond County Schools. And, because of state funding cuts, she’s facing furloughs and possibly layoffs. She does not think Georgia should be this generous when it comes to cutting sales taxes, now, but she was still taking advantage of it. “Yes I am I have to it’s not my concerns it’s my children,” she said.

Gwen Rouse also depends on state money for her family budget she works for the Medical College of Georgia, and her husband works for Richmond County Schools. “Well the state does need the money if everybody is suffering we’ve got to give a little bit somewhere,” she said.

Shoppers are satisfied; the tax free holiday puts them in a better financial position, even if the state of Georgia is in no financial shape to be offering it.

“We need it we need to get our kids back in school the only way we can do this is through the tax free weekend,” said Sinclair.

The Georgia Department or Revenue estimates say the four day sales tax holiday will cost the state between $11 million and $13 million.

But, State Representative Quincy Murphy supports the tax break, saying though it’s a significant sum of money, it’s nowhere near the sacrifice local families are making because of the economy.

Georgia’s sales tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2009 and end at midnight on Saturday, August 2, 2009. For more information from the Georgia Department of Revenue, click here.

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