Sales Tax Holiday Underway
August 13, 2010
Florida shoppers won’t pay sales tax on many items from Friday through the weekend thanks to a Legislature hoping to spur the economy, give weary consumers a break and maybe land a few votes.
The three-day event is expected to save taxpayers $26 million by exempting qualified items from the state’s 6 percent sales tax on a host of items from pencil and paper to backpacks and shoes, although history suggests many of them will end up spending more on taxes on other items than they otherwise would have.
For complete details on exempt items in Florida, click here (pdf).
The holiday will translate into a loss of $21.2 million in state sales tax revenue and $4.8 million for local governments, according to House estimates released earlier this year.
The sometimes annual event, versions of which are now in place in 19 states, remains popular despite criticism by some tax watch groups that say the events are more politically savvy than economically sound.
But Gov. Charlie Crist on said even a little bit of extra shopping may help the retail sector, as well as strapped parents with kids going back to school.
“I am pleased that students and families will have the opportunity to save their hard-earned money as the new school year approaches,” Crist said in a statement following an appearance at the Dadeland Mall in Miami to tout the holiday. “It is always a priority to ensure our children have the resources they need to be successful and competitive in the classroom.”
Cash strapped lawmakers earlier this year approved the sales tax holiday, a three-day event beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Consumers will not pay sales tax on books, clothing and footwear that cost $50 or less and school supplies that cost $10 or less.
The Legislature first enacted a back-to-school sales tax holiday in 1998 and has since had eight such periods ranging from a week to 10 days. Cash strapped lawmakers didn’t set aside money for the holiday for the past two years during the economic downturn that caused a budget crisis at the Capitol. During more flush times, the state has also offered sales tax breaks on hurricane supplies, which lawmakers didn’t give out this year.
Mark Robyn, an economist with the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit research group that advocates for transparency and broad based rates for state and federal taxes, says the holidays merely shift the time in which consumers choose to purchase back-to-school items and therefore don’t result in either increased revenue for businesses or significant savings for consumers.
“There are better ways to use tax incentives,” Robyn said. “(The holidays) are more a political gimmick.”
Small businesses can actually be hurt by the holiday as it can slow sales before and after the event, a shift that effects cash flow, Robyn said. Small retailers are also less able to have enough staff needed to handle the increased demand.
Retailers say such opposition is ill-founded because the sales tax holiday translates into increased revenue not only for retailers who offer back-to-school items but to other merchants who sell taxable items as well during the period.
Rick McAllister, president of the Florida Retail Federation, said tax analysts who say the holiday has little or no impact on sales should talk to the retailers who annually lobby lawmakers to offer it.
“The people who know are the retailers, McAllister said. “If it didn’t make a difference why would they want to do it? It’s more work for them. If it didn’t translate into higher sales they wouldn’t want to go to the trouble.”
Retailers in the past have said that because of increased sales of other items, the sales tax “holiday” actually ends up increasing the amount of tax revenue coming into state coffers during the period.
Lawmakers Have Ideas Ready For Potential Special Session
August 13, 2010
There’s no timetable for when lawmakers may return to Tallahassee and take up remaining issues related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill – if they do return at all – but several proposals are being drafted by lawmakers that could lead to property tax rebates, additional money for tourism development boards and heightened powers for the statewide prosecutor.
Lawmakers stopped by Tallahassee last month for one day to shoot down Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposal to allow voters to make the ultimate decision on whether the state should ban offshore oil drilling. But they also failed to address any economic issues related to the oil spill.
Senate leaders bemoaned the fact that the House wouldn’t stay and work on other legislation related to the effects of the spill, which a committee of senators had already started examining. House Speaker Larry Cretul instead appointed his own committees to tackle issues associated with the spill and told Senate President Jeff Atwater that if necessary, lawmakers could return to the Capitol in September to take up ideas brought by both House and Senate members.
Sen. Don Gaetz said members of the Senate are trying to prioritize the issues into three categories – ones that need to be handled immediately, those that could be handled in the organizational session that will be held in November and ones that can wait until the regular legislative session in the spring.
“We’re trying to rack and stack the issues,” said Gaetz, R-Niceville, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on the Economy.
The House committees, meanwhile, have begun to meet by conference call.
The big question remains when and if a special session will ultimately be called, bringing legislators back to Tallahassee before the November election. Cretul has said he wants lawmakers to first figure out whether there even needs to be a special session through committee meetings, and if so, what needs to be done. A spokeswoman for Cretul reiterated that position to the News Service Thursday.
Senate President-Designate Mike Haridopolos told reporters last week that there would be a session if “we have a conclusion” on what to do, and Gaetz acknowledged that the Senate had to “have a dance partner” in the House to pass legislation.
“The worst thing is going into a special session and not knowing how you’re going to end it,” he said.
Gaetz said that the select committee’s ideas are in legislative drafting now and he is hopeful the House will soon produce its own proposals as well. The Senate proposals so far include:
-A multistate compact among the other Gulf of Mexico states that lays out needed regional environmental protections
-Legislation strengthening the role of the statewide prosecutor, particularly when it comes to environmental crimes.
-Property tax relief that could include property tax rebates similar to payments made in 2007 to Central Florida residents whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged by tornadoes.
-A law that would authorize a matching program from funds in the Restaurant and Lodging Trust Fund so that Panhandle tourism boards could promote the area, particularly during the winter months when there are fewer visitors.
-Economic incentives to companies, unrelated to tourism or the military, who want to move to the region.
Seven People Injured When Mental Health Van Overturns On Dirt Road
August 12, 2010
Seven people were injured when a van overturned near Flomaton Thursday afternoon.
The accident happened about 2:20 p.m. on Friendship Road north of Highway 31. The driver of the Southwest Alabama Metal Health & Metal Retardation Board van apparently lost control on the narrow, muddy dirt road. The van slid and overturned onto its side.
Preliminary reports indicated that there were 10 people on the van. Seven were transported to area hospitals by ambulance; two of those were considered to be in more serious conditions by emergency workers on scene. An unknown number of patients were trapped in the van and were extricated by emergency workers.
Pictured above: Firefighters work to extricate one of seven people injured in a van crash Thursday afternoon near Flomaton. Pictured below: Emergency workers treat one of the serious injuries. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Manhunt Turns Up Empty After Home Invasion, Attempted Rape
August 12, 2010
A home invasion and attempted rape near Canoe, Ala., led to a manhunt Thursday afternoon.
The female victim told deputies that the male suspect entered her home on Tumbling Lane, north of Highway 31 between Canoe and Atmore, about noon. The male fled the residence on foot.
Multiple agencies from Alabama and Florida searched for the suspect for about two hours but were not immediately able to locate him. According to Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambeth, the suspect is believed to have fled the scene in a vehicle.
The victim described the suspect as wearing a black mask, black shorts, a black shirt, white socks and tennis shoes. She believed the suspect was a white male.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department and the Atmore Police Department formed a perimeter around the area. Tracking dogs from both the Alabama Department of Corrections and Century Correctional Institution were brought into to search for the suspect, but they were unable to locate the man’s trail. A surveillance plane was also used in the search for the suspect.
The victim was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital for evaluation.
More details will be posted as they become available here on NorthEscambia.com. Tumbling Lane is located about two miles north the Alabama-Florida line.
Pictured top: A Century Correctional Institution K-9 officer attempts to locate the trail of an attempted rape and home invasion suspect Thursday afternoon in Canoe, Ala. Pictured inset: A Century Correctional Institution and an Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 officer discuss the search. Pictured below: Authorities investigate a home invasion and attempted rape Thursday afternoon in Escambia County, Ala. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Brewton Police: Chase That Claimed Principal’s Life Was Justified
August 12, 2010
Brewton’s police chief said his officer was acting within his department’s chase policy Wednesday night when a high speed chase ended with the death of a suspect and the principal of T.R. Miller High School.
Brewton Police Chief Monte McGougin defended the officer’s actions during the chase, saying that his officer, who was not named during a press conference Thursday, had slowed and backed off the chase prior to its tragic end — the death of Donald Rotch, T.R. Miller principal (pictured left)
McGougin said a red Pontiac Grand Am driven by Samuel Martin Reid, 39, pulled into the parking lot of the Brewton Police Department on Highway 31 at 8:02 p.m. Officers reported that the driver appeared to be in a physical altercation with a woman in the car.
“The door of the vehicle would repeatedly open and close, open and close,” the police chief said officers observed in the department’s parking lot. As the Brewton officer approached the car, it sped away, headed north on Highway 31.
“The officer gave chase,” McGougin said. About that time, a woman was “tossed” from the car, he said. The woman was not injured. Shortly after the chase began, the officer “put a great distance” between his car and the suspect vehicle by 8:04 p.m.
“When he topped a hill, ” McGougin said, “he saw a large explosion two hills ahead of him” as the crash happened. He said the entire incident from the time the car left the police station until the crash took about two minutes.
Reid was trying to pass a white car occupied by a Florida family when the crash happened. The family was not injured, but debris heavily damaged their sedan.
“This has been very hard on the officer involved,” McGougin said. He said the officer, who has been place on adminstrative leave, was a T.R. Miller student and played baseball with Rotch at his coach. “He is taking this extremely hard.”
“This is a situation that could have been completely prevented,” Mia Reid, sister of the deceased, said. ”
The accident is under investigation by the Alabama State Trooper’s Vehicular Homicide Unit.
Read a previous story about the chase and crash here.
Photos top: The vehicle driven by T.R. Miller Principal Donald Rotch. Pictured below: The vehicle drive by Samuel Martin Reid. Photos courtesy WEAR TV for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Found Dead By Highway 29 In McDavid Identified
August 12, 2010
Investigators have identified the man whose body was found next to Highway 29 Tuesday morning in McDavid.
The body of Donald Freeman, 49, of Pensacola was found lying face down in high grass a few feet off the side of Highway 29 just north of the West Fraser McDavid sawmill about 9:20 Tuesday morning.
“We have ruled any blunt force trauma, and there are no signs of foul play,” said Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Roy also said there were no obvious signs of trauma that would indicate Freeman was struck by a passing vehicle.
However, Roy said the cause of Freeman’s death is still unknown. He said the department is still waiting for toxicology and additional test results.
Freeman was believed to be walking toward Century were he had relatives, Roy said.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
For an earlier story and video, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Students Remember Principal In Morning Prayer Vigil
August 12, 2010
T.R. Miller High School students and faculty gathered before school this morning to remember longtime Principal Donald Rotch, who died in a head-on collision Wednesday night about two miles north of the school.
Tears were flowing as the student prayer vigil remembered the man had led the school for more than a dozen year and had devoted much of his life to Brewton’s T.R. Miller and Tiger sports. He was often described as the T.R. Miller’s biggest fan.
For more on the accident that claimed Rotch’s life, click here.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Principal Dies When Hit Head-on By Man Fleeing Police; Suspect Also Dead
August 12, 2010
T.R. Miller High School Principal Donald Rotch was killed Wednesday night when his vehicle was hit head-on by a man fleeing Brewton Police in a high-speed chase.
(Read an update to this story by clicking here.)
Samuel Martin Reid, the man being chased by police, also died in the crash on Highway 31 north of Walmart near Old Castleberry Road.
Brewton Police reportedly attempted to pull over Reid, but he fled in what was described as a “high-speed” chase that lasted for about three miles shortly after 8 p.m. The chase reportedly began after a domestic dispute in the parking lot of the Brewton Police Department. the chase reportedly reached speeds over 100 mph on Highway 31.
Rotch (pictured) was southbound on Highway 31 toward Brewton when his vehicle was struck by Reid. The accident site was less than two miles from T.R. Miller High School.
There were no passengers in either vehicle. The accident is still under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Rotch had served as T.R. Miller’s principal for about 10 years. Known fondly as “Coach Rotch”, he served as the head baseball coach and assistant football coach during his long career at the Brewton school. Rotch, who joined the T.R. Miller staff in 1974, was on the coaching staff that led the Tiger’s to a state football championship in 1984 and 1991.
Word quickly spread through Brewton that T.R. Miller’s beloved principal had been killed. Within hours, a memorial Facebook page eulogized Coach Rotch.
“From the Freshmen Class all the way out to our Alumni, Coach Rotch was there. He was a mentor, a principal, a coach, and a friend to all. His name will forever be remembered in the halls of T.R. Miller High School. He changed so many peoples lives with his guidance. He will forever be in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew him. Rest in Peace Coach Rotch, and we will miss you,” the Facebook memorial stated.
Photos top and bottom courtesy WEAR TV for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Sales Tax Holiday Begins Friday
August 12, 2010
Friday will mark the first day of Florida’s 2010 Sales Tax Holiday, offering shoppers the chance to stock up on school supplies and clothing without paying sales tax.
The school sales tax holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday until midnight Sunday. After a two-year hiatus, consumers are excited about the return of a holiday that provides a break at the cash register for families during a time of year when their expenses climb.
Retailers across Northwest Florida are gearing up for a big weekend, stocking up on merchandise and planning for a boost to their bottom line. In addition to locals, retailers are expecting to see a lot of Alabama tags in their parking lots as Alabama residents cross the state line to save a few extra dollars this weekend.
In general, Florida’s sales tax holiday will apply to “the sale of books, clothing, wallets, or bags, including handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, and diaper bags, but excluding briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags, having a sales price of $50 or less, or on sales of certain school supplies having a sales price of $10 or less for the period beginning 12:01 a.m., August 13, 2010, and ending at midnight, August 15, 2010,” according to the Florida Department of Revenue.
For complete details on exempt items in Florida, click here (pdf).
Florida defines books as “a set of printed sheets bound together and published in a volume.” Newspapers, magazines, other periodicals and audio books are not books and will be taxable during the holiday.
Clothing is defined as any article of wearing apparel, including all footwear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades and skates) intended to be worn on or about the body. Clothing does not include watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas, handkerchiefs or sporting equipment.
School supplies include pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, notebook filler paper, legal pads, binders, lunch boxes, construction paper, markers, folders, poster board, composition books, poster paper, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, paste, rulers, computer disks, protractors, compasses and calculators.
The state also has a rule about where purchases can be made or, more importantly, where they can’t be made.
For example, eligible items are not exempt from sales tax if purchased at a theme park or entertainment complex. So, a T-shirt with a cartoon character on the front purchased at Disney World would be taxable, although a similar T-shirt purchased at a department store would be exempt.
Eligible items also lose their tax-exempt status if purchased at a public lodging establishment, aka a hotel, motel, resort, beach cottage, or airport.
Weather Permitting: Watch Year’s Best Meteor Shower Tonight
August 12, 2010
If the weather cooperates, you can look skyward in the North Escambia area tonight for the year’s best celestial fireworks show.
Tonight is the peak viewing night for the Perseid Meteor Shower. With no clouds and a dark viewing location, you can see a meteor every two to three minutes, especially from midnight until dawn, according to Dr. Wayne Wooten, Pensacola State College astronomer. They will seem to come out of the constellation Perseus, rising in the northeast just before midnight.
If you miss tonight’s meteor show, the Perseid Meteor Shower will continue through August 24.
Astronomers say it will be a good show as earth passes through a swarm of dust shed by periodic comet Swift-Tuttle.
“Earthgrazers are meteors that approach from the horizon and skim the atmosphere overhead like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond,” explains Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “They are long, slow and colorful—among the most beautiful of meteors.” He notes that an hour of watching may net only a few of these at most, but seeing even one can make the whole night worthwhile.
Pictured top: Looking northeast around midnight Tuesday, the red dot is the Perseid radiant. Although Perseid meteors can appear in any part of the sky, all of their tails will point back to the radiant. Image courtesy NASA and Spaceweather.com.