The older I get, the more aware I am of how quickly time passes. As the spring leaves begin to bud, I know that just around the corner, those same leaves will soon turn into the bright, beautiful colors of fall. So while right now kids are looking forward to a long, hot summer, many parents are very aware that it won't be long before it's time to by school clothes and supplies. That can be a very expensive prospect. It's my hope that West Virginia's second annual sales tax holiday, which Gov. Bob Wise proposed and the Legislature approved during the 2003 session, will help.
The 2002 sales tax holiday, which was approved by the Legislature on a one-time, trial basis, was a great success. The holiday was created to help families afford back-to-school clothes and supplies by exempting them from the state's 6 percent sales tax for three full days. Last year's event saved West Virginians $1.7 million. But it also was a big hit with retailers, which reported brisk sales not only to West Virginia residents, but also to people from border states. Sales of exempt items during the 2002 holiday totaled $28.3 million.
During this year's sales tax holiday, which has been expanded to include computers, the state Division of Tax and Revenue estimates that taxpayers could save about $2.2 million. The holiday will begin 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, and end midnight Sunday, Aug. 3. Shoppers will be able to purchase general school supplies, articles of clothing and footwear valued up to $100. Unlike last year, shoppers will also be able to purchase computers up to $750 and computer accessories up to $100 after credit for a manufacturers rebate.
I believe this is a great opportunity for West Virginia parents, most of whom struggle each year to cover escalating school supply costs - not to mention expensive clothes for teens! I'm pleased that the Legislature was able to account for the holiday in the new budget, despite the depressed economy and West Virginia's declining tax revenue.
* This week I'll be returning to Charleston for the first of the Legislature's monthly interim meetings. As chair of the Rule-Making and Revue Committee, my job will be to oversee my committee's revue of the many proposed rules various state agencies must submit to the Legislature. But I also will be serving on other interim committees, which will be preparing legislation for the 2004 session.
The three-day interim meetings were created to allow delegates and senators to work together on joint committees and deliberate on some of the more complex issues facing the state. Because it is difficult to develop complicated legislation during the regular 60-day session, the interim sessions allow lawmakers to work more methodically and better deliberate. During the intervening weeks, legislative staff and attorneys draft numerous versions of potential laws, fine-tuning and expanding upon points at legislators' requests. Representatives from a host of state agencies are asked to submit reports during the monthly meetings and provide relevant data.
While the House speaker and the Senate president might appoint an interim committee to study a specific topic, such as medical malpractice insurance or juvenile foster care, there are also standard interim committees: Judiciary, Education, Finance, Government Organization, Health and Human Resources, and Rule-Making and Revue. Based largely upon study resolutions requests that the Legislature adopts during the 60-day session, the speaker and the president assign numerous study topics to each committee. Then, the House-Senate co-chairs of each interim committee usually establish subcommittes to work on individual subjects.
Legislators have requested dozens of studies covering a whole range of issues, including Gov. Bob Wise's proposal to merge the Governor's Cabinet on Children and Families with the state Bureau For Children and Families, the cost of car and home insurance, and the cost of prescription drugs. The House speaker and Senate president are expected to appoint interim committees and assign studies in the coming weeks, and I'll be sure to report on what I learn each month during the interim meetings.
I welcome and appreciate your input on these issues, or any other legislative matter. Please call me at (304)340-3106 or write to Delegate Virginia Mahan, 215-E, Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV 25305.