SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The price tag says $10 dollars. But when you get to the cash register, the items you have picked out never cost exactly what the tag says. Sales tax is often what many forget to budget for when shopping, especially when planning to buy in volume.
Of course, sales tax does not put a dent in your finances all at once. But $20 here and $50 dollars there will certainly start to add up over time.
Yes, sales tax is inevitable unless you strictly shop on a tax holiday. What if there was a way to save a few nickels and dimes along the way?
What if you could do that right here in Sylacauga? Is your curiosity piqued yet?
Shopping destinations in areas such as Birmingham may have a few things that you cannot find in Sylacauga at this time. No one can blame you for making the trek up Hwy. 280 for those items. However, Mayor Jim Heigl encourages staying local for all things you can find in town. He said it not only helps local business but the lower sales tax can save you money.
Sylacauga boasts an 8% sales tax city-wide and Heigl is proud of that.
“We really want to advertise our eight percent sales tax,” said Heigl. “It’s one of the lowest rates around and we’re glad to save people money.”
He said Sylacauga’s sales tax is indeed one of the lowest around and wills surely save you money. Birmingham has a 10% rate and many of the surrounding areas also charge an extra nine or 10% on very dollar you spend. Imagine saving 2-3% percent on something as expensive as an automobile. Hundreds of dollars could stay in your wallet.
Promoting the lower sales tax is a priority for Heigl. He said he is trying to push the idea of shopping local. Heigl is pushing to advertise through billboards and the local media to push business towards his city.
“If people know they can save they’ll shop here,” said Heigl. “Our sales tax should attract people to stay local, attract outsiders to come in and do business with us, and eventually bring new businesses to the area.”
The city is already seeing a growth in business as a new shopping center is set to come near Walmart on Hwy. 280, and an Ollie’s Bargain Center is well on its way to opening on Fort Williams Street at the new Marble City Towne Centre.
So why is the mayor pushing the sales tax message so hard? He said it is simply because the city relies so much on the revenue from the tax. “The heart of our income is sales tax,” stated Heigl. “We have to depend on that so the more people that shop in Sylacauga the better off everyone will be.”
Jeremy Law for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2017, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
