Governor Bentley Discusses Tropical Storm Debby, State Sales Tax Holiday for Severe Weather Preparedness Items
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: June 25, 2012
Governor
Robert Bentley joined state and local leaders Monday to discuss the
ongoing monitoring of Tropical Storm Debby and final preparations that
are underway
for Alabama's first-ever state sales tax holiday for severe weather
preparedness items.
"We
are continuing to track this storm around-the-clock. As we've seen,
there can be major changes in the forecast track in a short period of
time," Governor Bentley
said. "While we may not have a direct hit from Debby, we are still
seeing the effects. There have been very dangerous currents along the
Alabama Gulf Coast, and people need to continue to monitor weather
conditions."
"Tropical
Storms Debby is a good example of the importance of being prepared for
severe weather," Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art
Faulkner said. "With
the unknowns of any tropical system, preparing in advance can make a
real difference."
Governor
Bentley and Director Faulkner had already been scheduled to speak at a
news conference in Daphne on final preparations for Alabama's upcoming
state sales tax
holiday on severe weather preparedness items. The holiday will help
residents prepare for future storms or natural disasters.
"Being
prepared is the first step to a quick response to a natural disaster,"
Governor Bentley said. "If people have the emergency supplies they
need, that will go a
long way toward helping them weather any storm."
The
annual sales tax holiday was a key recommendation of Governor Bentley's
Tornado Recovery Action Council. The council was appointed by the
Governor following the
April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak. Legislation that created the holiday
was approved in April and signed by Governor Bentley.
As
part of the holiday, items related to severe weather preparedness will
be exempted from state sales and use taxes over a designated weekend. A
provision also allows
counties and municipalities to join the state by removing their own
local sales and use taxes from the same items during the same weekend.
More than 200 local governments across the state have decided to join.
"The
number of municipalities participating in the first year is truly
impressive," Revenue Commissioner Julie Magee said. "Many of these
cities and counties participate
every year during the sales tax holiday for back-to-school items and
have decided to participate in this additional weekend to help
Alabamians prepare for severe weather."
The
sales tax holiday for 2012 will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 6.
The holiday will continue through midnight on Sunday, July 8. By
having the holiday in July
of this year, retailers and municipalities were given time between the
holiday's legislative approval and the designated weekend to organize
and prepare for participation. Final preparations will continue between
now and the start of the holiday on July 6.
Items covered by the sales tax holiday include:
- Several types of batteries, including cell phone batteries and chargers
- Battery-powered radios
- NOAA weather radios
- Flashlights, lanterns, and emergency glow sticks
- First aid kits
- Duct tape
- Plywood, window film or other materials, specifically designed to protect window openings
- Portable generators
- Gas or Diesel fuel containers
- Tarpaulins and plastic sheeting
- Any non-electric food storage cooler or water storage container
- Non-electric can openers
- Any artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs, or reusable ice
- Fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors
- Ground anchor systems such as cords or rope or tie-down kits
The covered items must cost $60 or less, except for generators, which are covered as long as they cost $1,000 or less.
"This
sales tax holiday will be good for the public and for retailers,"
Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown said. "The main
objective is safety. By stocking
up on supplies, families can be better prepared for future emergencies."
Beginning
in 2013, the annual sales tax holiday will be held during the last full
weekend of February. This will place the holiday in close proximity
to the annual Severe Weather Awareness Week and will encourage people to
stock up on needed supplies in advance of Alabama's primary severe
weather season.
