Staff report

SELMA — The deadline has arrived for Alabama cities and counties to notify the state if they plan to participate in exempting shoppers from sales taxes on back-to-school purchase made from Aug. 7-9.

Despite the recession, the Selma City Council voted to participate.

The holiday, enacted in 2006 to coincide with the beginning of school, exempts shoppers from the state’s 4 percent sales tax and cities and counties also may exempt their local sales taxes.

Among items on which taxes are exempt are clothing, books, computer and school supplies.

According to the state Department of Revenue, since the holiday went into effect tax collections have risen each August from the previous year.

Valley Grande officials opted out of the holiday, saying the event is for larger cities with bigger stores.