By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – For two days in early August, residents of St. John Parish will have the opportunity to enjoy a reprieve from sales taxes for goods bought within the parish.

The St. John Council unanimously approved an ordinance at Tuesday’s regular council meeting, which would waive sales taxes on purchases up to $2,500. The holiday is scheduled for August 1 and 2 of this year, and will coincide with the state sales tax holiday scheduled for that weekend.

The St. John School Board approved a similar measure at their May 1 meeting, but, according to St. John Public Information Officer Buddy Boe, the proposal needed an endorsement from the council before it could take affect. Final approval must also come from Sheriff Wayne Jones.

Boe said the joint measure would waive the 4.75 percent local sales tax in addition to the already waved state sales tax of 4 percent on all consumer purchases of tangible personal property except automobiles and meals at restaurants. He said the timing of the holiday was designed to give residents a bit of a break as they begin to purchase school supplies for kids heading back to school, and hurricane materials in anticipation of the height of hurricane season.

School Board President Gerald Keller, who has been the main driving force behind the local tax holiday, said at the meeting that he was very pleased that the council supported the measure, calling it a “win-win situation” for the community and the local government.

“This is a good chance for us to work together to give back to the community,” Keller told the Council. “I look forward to more joint ventures in the future.”

Division B Councilman-at-Large Steve Lee said he was more than happy to give his endorsement, and was pleased to see the School Board represented.

“It is a show of good faith to the residents of the parish,” said Lee. “It is a new day in Louisiana and a new day in St. John.”