Regrettably, but perhaps somewhat understandably, budget-strapped Georgia this year did away with its back-to-school sales tax holiday.
Since 2002, the weekend offered relief for families purchasing items ranging from clothing and computers to shoes and school supplies.
This year, however, the state needs the revenue from the weekend, which was typically around the first of August and among the busiest of the year.
But no holiday from sales tax doesn’t mean that there aren’t deals to be had this back-to-school shopping season.
Quite the contrary. To help ease the blow on shoppers, many retailers are offering back-to-school specials and discounts, as well as weekly sales, of their own.
In fact, the change provides all the more reason to shop locally this summer. From Lakeland Plaza and the Avenue Forsyth to the bustling Market Place Boulevard corridor, deals abound.
The first day of the 2010-11 school year for Forsyth County Schools is Aug. 9.
As folks make their back-to-school preparations, we would like to join the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce in encouraging residents to shop “Forsyth First.”
As outlined on the Web site www.shoplocalforsyth.com, the “Buy Locally, Succeed Locally” campaign is a community effort to build awareness of Forsyth County’s local small and large businesses alike.
It also seeks to educate local consumers on the advantages of supporting the growth of these businesses.
By enjoying what local businesses have to offer, residents not only strengthen the local economy but also experience and taste what they can only find in Forsyth County.
The impact of a sales tax-free period can not be dismissed. As Georgia Retail Association president John Heavener put it, there is “something about the sales tax holiday that defies definition.”
And granted, who doesn’t welcome a break from paying sales tax.
But since we’re going to have to pay sales tax this year, we may as well as do it in Forsyth County, where it can benefit the local governments and school system whose many vital projects depend on it.
Shopping outside of the county sends valuable tax dollars elsewhere, funding another community’s projects rather than our own.
The local campaign encourages residents to “Buy locally. Succeed locally. Shop Forsyth County.” We couldn’t agree more.
Since 2002, the weekend offered relief for families purchasing items ranging from clothing and computers to shoes and school supplies.
This year, however, the state needs the revenue from the weekend, which was typically around the first of August and among the busiest of the year.
But no holiday from sales tax doesn’t mean that there aren’t deals to be had this back-to-school shopping season.
Quite the contrary. To help ease the blow on shoppers, many retailers are offering back-to-school specials and discounts, as well as weekly sales, of their own.
In fact, the change provides all the more reason to shop locally this summer. From Lakeland Plaza and the Avenue Forsyth to the bustling Market Place Boulevard corridor, deals abound.
The first day of the 2010-11 school year for Forsyth County Schools is Aug. 9.
As folks make their back-to-school preparations, we would like to join the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce in encouraging residents to shop “Forsyth First.”
As outlined on the Web site www.shoplocalforsyth.com, the “Buy Locally, Succeed Locally” campaign is a community effort to build awareness of Forsyth County’s local small and large businesses alike.
It also seeks to educate local consumers on the advantages of supporting the growth of these businesses.
By enjoying what local businesses have to offer, residents not only strengthen the local economy but also experience and taste what they can only find in Forsyth County.
The impact of a sales tax-free period can not be dismissed. As Georgia Retail Association president John Heavener put it, there is “something about the sales tax holiday that defies definition.”
And granted, who doesn’t welcome a break from paying sales tax.
But since we’re going to have to pay sales tax this year, we may as well as do it in Forsyth County, where it can benefit the local governments and school system whose many vital projects depend on it.
Shopping outside of the county sends valuable tax dollars elsewhere, funding another community’s projects rather than our own.
The local campaign encourages residents to “Buy locally. Succeed locally. Shop Forsyth County.” We couldn’t agree more.