Sales tax holiday has ups and downs

All over Missouri shoppers are stocking up on back-to-school items tax free. Stores in participating jurisdictions in the sales tax holiday sell clothing, school supplies, and computers free of state, city and county taxes. Parents and kids flood the aisles of local department stores all for the same reasons. "Shoes, jeans, shirts, backpacks, underwear, socks; anything that`s needed to get the kids in the classroom," JC Penney Store Manager Lori Garner says. Back to school shopping can be burdensome, but Missouri`s sales tax holiday hopes to ease the pain in the wallet. The holiday allows stores to sell back to school items sold tax free. Department stores like JC Penney also enhance the shopping experience by adding sales of its own hoping to bring in even more business. "We`re excited. We`ve got the staffing in place and we`ve got the items out and we hope to bring the customers in," Garner says. Doing just that, JC Penney`s most dedicated shoppers say cashing in counts for more during the holiday. "I always go, well most usually this one; usually all of their sale days i usually try to get out," Shopper Maude Moore says. Booming business isn`t just for big department stores, smaller local shops like Kathy`s Kloset also report seeing more faces. "Everyone`s taking advantage of it and it works really well," Kathy`s Kloset owner Kathy Dafford says. No matter how much money their business is generating Garner says they still remember the importance of their shoppers. "Our average working class homes. They work all year round. They shop us all year round and this gives them the opportunity to be rewarded. They deserve a break," Garner says. Garner says she is excited about the holiday because it provides a great opportunity for St. Joseph by keeping shoppers closer to home. "It looks like their staying right here in St. Joe to shop and that`s what we want," Garner says. The sales tax holiday began Friday morning and ends tomorrow at midnight. Sadie Wilson says she`s taking advantage of the help, but she`s running into policy problems. Wilson says Wal-mart won`t let her put items on lay-away this weekend to pay off tax-free later. Wal-mart representatives say the holiday is a one-stop shop and say their computer systems allow tax-free items this weekend only. But wilson says it`s impossible to pay for two childrens` needs up-front because of financial burdens. "I don`t think it`s fair, you know. Just like she said. I don`t have the money to go out and just pay for it straight up because you`ve got utilities, lights, gas, rent," Wilson says. Wilson says she can`t afford to go all out this holiday and instead will spread out purchases throughout the rest of the season.