Sikeston chooses to participate in annual sales tax holiday

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston will have a sales tax holiday.

Council members voted down an ordinance during a special meeting Friday that would have kept the city from participating in the annual back-to-school tax-break weekend.

Councilman Mike Bohannon said the only city in the area that had decided to opt out of the sales tax holiday this year is Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Council members had initially considered opting out because they thought the event was going to coincide with the annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. The sales tax holiday takes place the weekend before the rodeo, however.

"We need to do all we can to help our retail merchants," Bohannon said.

Councilwoman Sue Rogers said area residents who live out of town are planning visits to Sikeston to shop here during the sales tax holiday if Sikeston participates. As only certain items are exempt from tax, the city may actually bring in more sales tax revenue than usual "or at least break even," Rogers said.