TCB, (8/31/2009 6:37:06 AM)

"thousands of families actually do get short-term benefits."

That's a pretty big assumption. I think it's more likely that a handful of large retailers get short-term benefits. Here's a good story for next summer. Track the every day prices on a set of back-to-school goods in the months leading up to the holiday, then see what the "tax free" prices are. I bet they are marked up about 8.5%, before they're sold "tax-free."

my view, Sand Springs (8/31/2009 8:20:10 AM)

TCB,

What I see is retailers running sales leading up to and on the tax free weekend on school supplies. I help my grandkids parents buy school clothes everyear and most are bougth on that weekend, I don't see a conspiracy.

Between the five of them I save about $57. I do think it would be a good idea for the TW to track it, just for curiosity sake.

billy8, Sand Springs (8/31/2009 9:22:45 AM)

8.5% is the bottom tax, it's sometimes higher in other cities that use it for revenue. I have lived in states with a much lower sales tax and no tax on groceries, and they have a lot more to show for it. Where does all the money go in Oklahoma? We pay and pay and never get anything in return except we are asked to pay more for the shortfall they experience. We're just throwing money down a hole that never fills up.

Loophole, (8/31/2009 11:11:19 AM)

Where DOES that tax money go? Oklahomans have been asking that since statehood.

Jay of Tulsa, (8/31/2009 11:29:37 AM)

Where DOES that tax money go? Oklahomans have been asking that since statehood.
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And WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS!!!!

Peter Piper, TULSA (8/31/2009 1:15:15 PM)

QUESTION??? I thought the Legislature recently passed a Bill eliminating the state tax--about 4.5%--on groceries, but I am still paying it at the grocery stores.Anybody got an answer?Thank you!

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (8/31/2009 2:40:52 PM)

My girlfriend works in retail and she said that tax-free weekend makes them as much money as the week leading up to xmas.

my view, Sand Springs (8/31/2009 2:44:55 PM)

Peter Piper,

That's because they didn't pass it. Acording to the state constitution, if the state can't tax it neither can local government. The constitution would need to be changed and that takes a vote of the people.

Our cities are not allowed to impose a income tax by constitution most their funds comes from sales tax. Some small towns groceries are the number one sale item.

Mike S, Tulsa (8/31/2009 3:32:45 PM)

PeterPiper - to add to "my view"s answer, you probably heard that the House and Senate each passed a bill but those were very different and leaders in both bodies acknowledged that w/ an income shortage, it simply wasn't realistic for the State to cut that much money out of the budget.

Thunder196, Tulsa (8/31/2009 3:57:37 PM)

Retail merchants count on two main times each year to keep their businesses stable. Back to School and Christmas. If they don't make it big at those two times, they could end up struggling financially.

human1, A change is gonna come someday (8/31/2009 4:14:57 PM)

Interesting article!

Nickie, (8/31/2009 6:02:35 PM)

The back to school sales are terrific. Jeans can be bought at a good discount. At prom time the gowns are more than half slashed off. Love that tax free program for the folks that are able to get out in the crowd.

Bedazzled, (9/1/2009 12:30:34 AM)

It is a win/win for the economy/the retail business and the customers. Texas had Tax Free days before Oklahoma and did not exclude a dollar amount unlike Oklahoma on certain items in different stores.