COVID-19

Virus changes tax holiday shopping

Annual statewide event ends today

Ohio families know to expect a sales tax holiday weekend every August, just in time for back-to-school shopping.

The problem this year is no one knows what to expect from the back-to-school experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With some school districts going forward with in-class instruction, some moving classes online and others trying a hybrid of both, families out over the weekend were changing the way they normally prepare for the new school year.

"This weekend I would have taken advantage of, but everything's hit or miss. Everything's changing," said Ashley Gore of Liberty, who was shopping for her son at The Supply Room in Liberty. "I'm putting off shopping until everything is written in stone. I haven't bought any clothes yet. I bought a desk, a new printer to get set up for learning at home, so it's completely different this year."

Desks, computers and their accessories are not among the items exempt from sales taxes this weekend. The exemption only applies to items of clothing that cost $75 or less and school supplies and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less.

Shaunda Gray of Champion was shopping with her three children -- Kaliyah, 14; Kalylle, 13; and Kalin, 7 -- and said the savings from not paying sales tax was adding up.

"With the extra $10 I saved from her shirt and his shirt gets us another pair of pants," she said. "The taxes are a lot. Everything you buy, it seems like there's $4 in tax. With three children, I do pay attention (to tax holiday weekend)."

One challenge this year is that many stores have not reopened their fitting rooms after shutting down due to the coronavirus. Gray said her children have grown enough since classroom instruction stopped back in March, that she wasn't sure of their sizes anymore.

Parents aren't the only ones changing their shopping habits this year.

Branning Street of Vienna, who works at The Supply Room and also teaches in Warren City Schools, said many of its customers are teachers who buy decorations and other items for their classrooms.

"Teachers are more hesitant, waiting to see what the school year will be like," he said. "But we're seeing a lot of teachers and parents today."

While the tax holiday was created to help with back-to-school shopping, everyone can benefit, as long as they are purchasing an applicable item.

Courtney Siracki of Braceville didn't realize it was tax holiday weekend when she walked into Neal's Shoes & Uniforms in Warren on Friday. She was looking for scrubs to wear for a new job.

"It's a plus," she said. "It makes it nice."

Dave Maloy, owner of Neal's, said they do get a lot of students year round, because they stock the uniforms and shoes that nursing and some vocational students need for their classes.

"I think it's a pretty important weekend," Maloy said on Friday. "We've had people come in today to take advantage of it, and Saturday will be busier."

The tax holiday continues through today and applies to both in-person and online purchases.