Keloland does a report on the issue of a sales tax free weekend:
With shoppers hitting the store to find wedding gifts, birthday presents and back-to-school clothes, South Dakota retailers are getting busy — but not as busy as those in other states.
17 states in the U.S. are deeming this weekend a tax-free holiday, making certain items purchased exempt from sales tax. But while the other states are enjoying the break, South Dakotans will still be paying the sales tax.
The idea behind a tax-free holiday is to muster up some big business for retailers and give the consumer a tax break on certain purchases. The bill to do that in South Dakota failed during last year’s legislative session.
Christy Benson is a resident and shopper in Sioux Falls in favor of a tax-free weekend.
“I would definitely do it. I’ve never heard of it but I think it would definitely help with before school,” Benson said. “Everybody’s out buying stuff. I think that would be a great idea.”
The bill may have failed because eliminating a sales tax would require revenue from somewhere else, since South Dakota does not require an income or corporate tax.
Does the idea of instead reducing spending even touch one brain cell in the head of the liberal media? It would be nice to explain the concept on their political web site, but I guess I am too conservative for that environment.