Fun with numbers
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background…
Parents starting on back-to-school shopping will get a temporary sales tax break for 10 days this month.
From Friday, Aug. 7, through Aug. 16 the state’s sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. Items with a lower sales tax will include traditional supplies such as markers and pencils, notebooks and folders and other classroom items, as well as many clothing purchases.
* So, it’s a five percentage point reduction, not a 5 percent reduction, as is claimed below. And the resulting 1.25 percentage rate is specifically collected for local governments…
* From the new statute…
“School supplies” do not include school art supplies; school instructional materials; cameras; film and memory cards; videocameras, tapes, and videotapes; computers; cell phones; Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs); handheld electronic schedulers; and school computer supplies.
I do agree that school art supplies should be included.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 1:18 pm:
I think the law needs to be updated. Quite a bit of the excluded materials are definitely school supplies.
- Dotnonymous x - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 1:24 pm:
School supplies are provided by the state in developed countries.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
I STILL am laughing they picked the teachers store where my wife shops at a mile and a half from my house.
- JR - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 1:46 pm:
If we have public school art teachers, then please include art supplies next year. Thanks.
- Duck Duck Goose - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 1:50 pm:
According to my calculations, a reduction from 6.25% to 1.25% reduces the tax by 80%–not 5%. If you’re gonna get hypertechnical, then you gotta get hypertechnical. You can’t be a sloppy nitpicker.
- Oklahoma - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 2:03 pm:
Ugh. I have been waiting all year to buy my videotapes. Now I find out…
- Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 4, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
there’s a school in chicago that threw out a bunch of things and lots are circulating the dumpster view. things that could be used, say, in an underdeveloped nation. like we send them pieces of equipment we no longer use. so much is valuable for instruction, like for purchases for art, drama–set construction, reuse of materials for art. our schools and students need lots.