Southeast Missouri communities among those to participate in Green Sales Tax Holiday

Consumers in a handful of Southeast Missouri cities will have an opportunity to go green and save money at the same time next month during the first Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday.

The state's 4.225 percent sales tax will be eliminated from April 19 to 25 on certain energy-efficient home appliances. Nine counties, 57 cities and eight special districts have opted to suspend taxes in their jurisdictions, which could mean savings of up to 8 percent.

Dexter, Jackson, Marble Hill and Perryville will waive their city sales tax while businesses located in the Town Plaza Community Improvement District in Cape Girardeau will eliminate its 1 percent sales tax on qualifying appliances during that week.

"During these tough economic times, saving money is important to everyone," said Karen King Mitchell, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, in a written statement. "The Show-Me-Green Sales Tax Holiday represents an ideal time to buy these appliances because you can get them at a reduced price but also save money on your future utility bills."

The exemption applies to the first $1,500 on certain new Energy Star certified appliances. Qualifying purchases are clothes washers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners.

Created by the United State Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Star program allows manufacturers of appliances to voluntarily label selected appliances that meet certain criteria. The goal is to promote appliances that perform as well or better than similar appliances while using less energy. According to energystar.gov, Americans have saved $19 billion on utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million motor vehicles through the program.

Look for additional information on this story later in the day at semissourian.com and in Thursday's edition of the Southeast Missourian.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

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