Local promotion to give shoppers a sales tax break

A promotion organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is designed to benefit local shoppers.

Eight local businesses will offer a "We Pay the Tax Promotion" this weekend, Friday through Sunday, that includes an 8.8 percent discount on all purchases up to $300, FSACC Executive Director Lindsay Madison said.

Madison said some states, including Missouri, will offer a sales tax-free weekend Aug. 3-5.

For the local promotion, organizers have arranged to waive the local sales tax rate of 8.8 percent since Kansas has not approved an official statewide "sales tax holiday."

"We wanted to do a fun promotion, but entice people to stay local and shop since other states have a sales tax holiday that weekend," she said.

Some local retailers recently approached the chamber about conducting a promotion "to keep people here from crossing the border and to shop local," Madison said.

Madison said she wanted to emphasize that shoppers will still be paying the state sales tax, "just not the local tax rate."

Participating businesses include Bartelsmeyer Jewelry, Country Cupboard, eNVy Babies and Kids, Everything Pets, Flowers by Leanna, Iron Star Antiques and Such, J&W Sports Shop, life+style, Main Street Gallery and Gifts, Radio Shack, Redbud Farms and Nurseries, Ruddick's Furniture, Sekan Occasion Shops/Designers Florist by Sekan, Shirt Shack and the Vintage Junk Trunk.

For more information, call the chamber office at (620) 223-3566.