Two Democrat Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill that would give consumers a break on their back-to-school shopping.
House Bill 581 won't help this year, but if it's made law, co-sponsor Ron Gerrberry said it'll help shoppers save money before next school year, and keep consumers in eastern Ohio from traveling to shop in Pennsylvania, which does not have sales tax on clothing.
The bill would create an annual two-day sales tax ''holiday'' in August, during which clothing, school supplies, personal computers and computer accessories, up to a certain limit, would be exempt from sales tax.
The exemption would extend to clothing, school supplies and computer accessories priced less than $100 and personal computers priced less than $750.
Trumbull County is among 21 counties in Ohio with a 6.5 percent sales tax and Mahoning County is one of 14 with a rate of 6.75 percent.
Cuyahoga County is the highest and only county at 7.75 percent.
Forty-eight counties have a rate of 7 percent and four counties have a rate of 6.25 percent.
Gerberry, D-Austintown, said the bill would provide an advantage to retailers in Ohio by increasing revenue, give a bit of tax relief and encourage eastern Ohio residents to do their back-to-school shopping in Ohio.
The bill has not been assigned to a committee. The bill's main sponsor is state Rep. Matt Lundy, D-Elyria.