TALLAHASSEE – For the second year in a row, State Representative Marti Coley (R-Marianna) filed legislation today renewing Florida’s popular Back to School Sales Tax Holiday. The legislation would allow parents to purchase books, clothing, backpacks, and other school supplies, up to $50 dollars per item, during the week beginning August 2nd and ending August 11th.

According to a 2007 report from the National Retail Federation (NRF), the “back-to-school” period is second only to the fourth quarter holiday season in terms of sales.

“Florida’s families are feeling the pinch from a sluggish economy and a tax burden that continues to bite into their wallets,” said Representative Coley. “Providing back-to-school tax relief not only gives moms and dads some much-needed relief, it also has the potential to encourage the kind of activity we need to get our economy moving again.”

When you combine last year’s estimates with this year’s projected savings, taxpayers statewide will save a combined $70 million dollars as a result of the 2007 and 2008 back-to-school sales tax holidays.

Throughout the past decade, House Republicans have led the way in providing tax relief to Florida’s families through property tax relief, sales tax holidays, a reduction on the taxes paid for communications services, and a total elimination of the taxes seniors and savers pay. The total savings for Florida’s taxpayers under House Republican leadership during the past decade is now estimated at more than $31 billion dollars, or almost $2000 per person for each of the more than 18 million people who call Florida home.