Missourians To Spend Less Going Green
Missourians will have a second chance at spending less on energy-efficient appliances this week.
The state’s second annual “Show-Me Green” Sales Tax Holiday starts Monday and goes through Sunday, April 25th. Consumers who by energy-efficient marked appliances will save at least 4.225 percent off the purchase. The price will knock off the state’s sales tax from the purchase. Qualified appliances include: Washers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps.
State lawmakers made the decision to hold the tax holiday in 2008. A spokesperson for the State Department of Revenue tells ABC 17 News the holiday costs the state hundreds of thousands of dollars, but boosts local businesses and economies.
“They [lawmakers] thought, ‘well, yes, there may be a cost in the short-run to the state or local treasuries, but there are a lot of other good things that are happening from it too and that is increased business to the retailers and savings to consumers,'” said Ted Farnen, of Missouri’s Dept. of Revenue.
Columbia’s Downtown Appliance Home Center is one business that benefits from the initiative. “We expect our sales will be up by at least 50-percent this week,” said Gene Lavely, a sales associate.
Lavely also said some customers called months in advance when word spread the sales tax holiday would happen for a second year.
The program coincides with the federal rebate rebate program on energy-efficient appliances. Stimulus money will be used to implement write-in rebates for consumers who buy an energy-efficient appliance. Buyers must show proof they are replacing an older appliance. The rebates will go until the funds run out, which may be as early as a few days.
For more information on the Sales Tax Holiday, and the rebate program, follow the links on the right of this web page.
-Lauren Gores
