Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Continues
August 6, 2016
Florida families can save this weekend on clothing, footwear, and school supplies during the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
Until midnight Sunday, Florida law directs that no sales tax or local option tax will be collected on purchases of:
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
- Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
The holiday does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
- Any school supply item selling for more than $15
- Books not otherwise exempt
- Personal computers and computer-related accessories
- Rentals or leases of any of these items
- Repairs or alterations of any of these items
- Sales of clothing or school supplies in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport
The annual tax free weekend allows Sunshine State families to save on supplies and clothes to prepare their children and themselves for the upcoming year. Nationally, the average family is expected to spend $673.57 on apparel and accessories, shoes and school supplies, up from last year’s $630.36. Nationally, sales for this back-to-school shopping weekend are expected to reach $75 billion, up from $68 billion last year.
The holiday means big savings for shoppers and big business for retailers, which has become the second largest shopping weekend after Black Friday
Hot Summer Weekend
August 6, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 108. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Political Rally, Fish Fry Today In Jay
August 6, 2016
The Jay Historical Society is holding a political forum for Florida candidates at 4:00 this afternoon. Each candidate will be offered five minutes to share their qualifications and plans.
There will also be a fish fry with dinners available for purchase.
The event will be inside the Jay Community Center at 5259 Booker Lane.
Partly Sunny, Showers And Storms
August 5, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 109. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Underway
August 5, 2016
Parents and other shoppers looking for tax breaks on clothes and school supplies will have to head to the stores this weekend.
While Florida’s back-to-school sales tax “holiday” has been scaled back from last year, a major retail-industry organization said it anticipates a rush of traffic for the event, which runs Friday through Sunday.
“What we hope they do is take the money they saved on those items, then go back in and buy secondary items that they wouldn’t have purchased originally,” Florida Retail Federation spokesman James Miller said. “The smart retailers will piggyback on top of the sales-tax holiday with extra specials and discounts to get more people into the stores, make themselves more competitive and separate themselves from the competition.”
The tax holiday was spread over 10 days last year. But as the 2016 legislative session came to an end, it was among the casualties of lawmakers responding to state economists who reduced revenue forecasts.
In addition to fewer days for this year’s tax holiday, computers and other electronics are not on the tax-free list as has been the case the past four years.
Also, each item of clothing costing $60 or less this year will be tax free. That has been lowered from a $100 threshold last year and $75 in some previous years.
Items considered school supplies remain tax free if priced at $15 or less.
The holiday is a highlight of a $129.1 million tax-cut package that lawmakers approved this year. Lawmakers have touted $400 million in tax savings because of money they approved to hold down local property taxes that would otherwise go into the state’s school-funding formula.
The tax holiday is projected by state economists to save $28.7 million for consumers while reducing government revenue. That includes $23.3 million of state revenue and $5.4 million local-government revenue.
The state has held tax holidays most years since 1998. Until 2010, the length was often nine days. Other than the 10-day holiday last year, the length has been three days since 2010.
When initially proposed this year as a 10-day discount period, state economists projected the savings to consumers at $68.8 million.
The holiday comes with a number of carve-outs.
The tax must still be collected on clothing and other items, regardless of price, purchased at theme parks, airports or public-lodging establishments. Watches and jewelry don’t count as clothes. Skates, roller blades and swim fins are not included as tax-free footwear.
The retail federation projects that a typical family will spend $673 this year on back-to-school shopping, up from $640 a year ago.
Miller called that hike a “pretty significant” year-to-year increase.
“The economy is doing well, people are feeling better about themselves,” Miller said. “You combine that with high consumer confidence, a good housing market, a seven-year-low in the unemployment rate, all these factors are making people feel more confident about themselves and about their personal finances, which is allowing them to feel more comfortable spending their money.”
Daily Downpours, Otherwise Hot
August 4, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 107. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 105. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tour The New School: Century Academy Open House Today
August 4, 2016
An open house will be held Thursday at the new Century Academy, a private, non-profit K-12 school that will specialize in teaching children diagnosed with autism and other related learning disabilities.
Anyone interested in learning more about the school is welcome to attend.
“We are very excited to show the community the wonderful changes to bring this old building back to life and to be able to enrich the Century community. The students will absolutely love the rain forest and ocean themes. It is a beautiful place but one that is carefully designed to enhance the educational experience for children with autism and other learning disorders,” says Barbara Barber, director of Century Academy.
At the present time there are two types of scholarships available, the John McKay scholarship and the Gardiner scholarship. These scholarships generally cover the cost of tuition for a student attending a private school. Century Academy is now actively in the second phase of registration for the John McKay scholarship. This scholarship has a September 1 deadline to file an intent notice.
The Century Academy open house will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the school, 440 East Hecker Road.
Parents looking for more information can call (850) 437-5560.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Showers, Thunderstorms Likely For Wednesday
August 3, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89.
Showers, Thunderstorms Likely
August 2, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 107. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90.
August Begins With A Slightly Higher Rain Chance
August 1, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.