The Selma Times-Journal

It went so well last year, Dallas County has opted to try it again. This year will be the second sales tax holiday for the state.

Last year, the Alabama Legislature passed Act No. 2006-574, creating a “holiday” not only for parents and students shopping for school supplies, but one that could give advantages to all shoppers, whether shopping for school supplies or not. The tax-exempt holiday begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday, Aug. 3 and ends at midnight on Sunday, Aug. 5.

“It’s a good thing for Dallas County,” Probate Judge and Dallas County Commission Chairman Kim Ballard said. “There’s not a downside to this because stores reported increased overall sales when it was going on (last year).”

During the three-day holiday, “covered items” are exempt from county or municipal sales or use taxes.

Last year, most merchants made the list of covered items available to customers for easier shopping.

The list can be found on the Alabama Department of Revenue’s Web site, www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.htm.

“We will have the list at the front counter of the mall,” Selma Mall

Manager Carver Boynton said.

Last year’s holiday was a positive thing for mall merchants, according to Boynton. “It went really well,” she said. “We had a lot of local people who shopped Selma first.”

Jeans, jackets, diapers, crayons, computer supplies and school uniforms are only a few on the long list of tax-exempt items.

According to Boynton, the mall is in the middle of its Back to School Sale and various merchants are offering different incentives to lure customers.

Many area schools have gone to mandatory school uniforms, but for the students who still seek to follow the rules, yet express individual style, Boynton said students can find “trendy uniform choices that meet school guidelines.”

Last year’s increase in foot traffic was good for mall merchants and expectations are high for this year.

“We had a awesome turnout last year,” Boynton said. “We expect it to increase from year to year.”