Written by Kelsey Vickers, intern with The Messenger

The City of Troy will be participating in Alabama’s eighth annual “Back-to-School” Sales Tax Holiday at the beginning of next month.

Harry Sanders, Pike County administrator, said the sales tax weekend will greatly benefit the residents in the area.

“A long time ago, the commission chose to participate in order to try to help benefit the people within the county who have children attending school in the fall,” he said. “It lowers the cost of all the school supplies that the children need and gives retailers an opportunity to offer those items at a reduced price.”

Sanders said, from the county’s perspective, all cities in Pike County will be participating in the tax-free weekend. He also mentioned there is no exclusivity regarding which stores will be participating.

The sales tax holiday will begin August 2 at 12:01 a.m. and end August 4 at midnight. Items included in the tax-free weekend are school supplies, computers, and clothing.

Janet Motes, project coordinator for the City of Troy, said Troy council members took action to participate in the tax-free weekend when it first started.

“When the weekend first began a few years ago, the council decided that Troy would participate every year unless they took action to not participate,” she said.

Johnny Witherington, city council president, said the choice was made because of the benefits it brings for Troy and its residents.

“We participate in it because we think it’s a good thing for our parents and school kids, young and old,” he shared. “They get the opportunity to purchase all their school equipment, clothing and accessories at reduced priced, since there is no sales tax during this time.”

Witherington also said it will hopefully promote purchasing locally as well.

“I think it benefits the residents, and there are a lot of people who take advantage of it,” he said.

To see a complete list of tax-free items, as well as participating cities and counties, visit www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.