Augusta Commissioners see it as a solution to balance the budget, and to bring down property taxes: a one percent increase in the city sales tax. But, this easy way out of budget troubles could be hard to come by. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

City Administrator Fred Russell will present his recommendations for the 2010 budget to Commissioners, on Tuesday. Shrinking tax collections have city bean counters concerned, and to keep from losing city services, a recommendation for a tax increase is expected. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

It could be the solution for the stuck TEE Center and a change of scenery. Former Augusta Mayor Bob Young says the city should use the TEE Center sales tax money and expand the exhibition space at the James Brown Arena. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

Georgia’s tax collections dropped about 16 percent in August over the same month last year, but Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office says exceptional circumstances were largely to blame and there are no plans yet for further budget cuts.

Shoppers in South Carolina will flood the stores this weekend, as the Palmetto State gets its tax-free holiday. But, all that saving doesn’t add up for local schools. Sales tax dollars fund South Carolina education. So, a weekend without those dollars means savings for your budget, but not a thing for school budgets. WJBF News Channel 6’s Joy Howe has more.

Some savvy shoppers are not waiting for the sales tax free weekend in order to save some money. Some say, by watching for sales, you can save just as much, or more, ahead of the weekend. WJBF News Channel 6’s SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, explains.

Shoppers all over the Peach State hit the stores to take advantage of the 8th sales tax holiday. School supplies, clothes, computers and accessories are all exempt from state and local sales taxes through Sunday. But, with Georgia having severe funding issues, is the state being generous to a fault? WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

This weekend, in Georgia, and next weekend, in South Carolina, parents are hoping to save some of their hard earned cash while buying things their kids need to go back to school. That’s because those weekends are sales tax free weekends for Georgia, and South Carolina, respectively. But, is a tax free weekend really a good idea this year? Let us know what you think in our web poll.

After years of bad news, it looks like the recession may be over nationally and in South Carolina. WJBF News Channel 6’s SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, spoke to a USC economist about the economy.

Shoppers will get a break from road construction this weekend to go along with the state’s suspension of the sales tax for school supplies, clothing and computer equipment. The Georgia Department of Transportation will suspend construction-related lane closures within five miles of a shopping mall or major shopping district on all interstates and major state routes beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, July 31 through 9 p.m. Sunday, August 2.

They are the priority projects for the next phase of the special purpose local option sales tax, or S.P.L.O.S.T. Voters approved continuing the tax in june, but the city will not start collecting the money until fall of 2010. To avoid waiting, city leaders are recommending going out on bonds for some of the top priority projects.

Augusta is planning a major redevelopment of the city’s historic inner city neighborhoods. Along with the new trade center, the revitalization project will use money from a dollar a night hotel room fee as a source of funding. The trade center will be a tourist draw, but will the inner city be? WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

Augusta’s next splost is a done deal, but at what cost? Voters overwhelmingly approved extending the one-cent sales tax, with more than 70 percent of the vote, but turnout was terrible…less than 10,000 voters took part. It cost more than $83,000 to hold this referendum, so on a per-vote basis, this was an expensive election.

Augusta voters head to the polls to decide on extending the one-cent sales tax. Turnout has been slow, but many of those coming out are voting in support of the $184 million package, at least at Julian Smith Casino. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

Advance voting is underway and the numbers are picking up, as ballots are cast in Augusta’s sales tax election. That shows the interest is growing, but also reflects that two additional voting sites are now open. It’s more convenient for voters, but is it worth the cost? WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.