2009.05.19
Get a tax break on hurricane supplies
Last week's mini earthquake in the Roanoke Valley probably made many of us realize that Southwest Virginia isn't shielded from the potential for a natural disaster.
For preparedness sake, the state wants to make sure that Virginians are stocked up on necessary supplies in case a hurricane or flood strikes. Next week is Virginia's second sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies.
From May 25 through May 31, certain items will be free of the state's 5 percent sales tax. They include flashlights, bottled water, batteries, food and beverage storage coolers and a host of other items.
Most of these supplies must be $60 or less to get the tax exemption. And portable generators and inverters should be priced at $1,000 or less. Click here for the full list.
Also, look for some retailers to absorb the sales tax on merchandise that's not on this list.
Jenny, I know that other reporters have been covering the long on-going troubles with the new First & Main development in Blacksburg, but I wonder if there shouldn;t be a more in-depth investigation into the site and how it's doing. With all the highly negative publicity around the developer and how it went through, to the lease problems with tenants, to the numerous empty storefronts that were supposed to be opened by now, to the lack of any outparcel development, the theater, or big box...the center has seemed to be very lightly trafficked when I've gone, and I am wondering if the retailers and restaraunteurs there are doing well or if they are stuggling to bring in enough business. It seems like there isn;t enough to keep the place going, but I don't know. It just seems too slow there to be working well, and as long as the developer keeps having all these troubles cropping up, especially with a down economy, I just get the feeling that the site is doomed and many of the current tenants may not be around in another year or so if nothing significantly improves there. I had quipped before the project got going that I thought in 5 years it would be a glorified strip mall filled with the usual tenants like Dollar Tree, a Pawn Shop, and a Cash Advance store...but now I'm wondering if that might not be how it turns out in the end at the rate things are going.
As for hurricane prep, I was saddened to see that the usual hurricane supplies that run out(at least they would in Virginia Beach) such as beer, potato chips, and frozen pizzas were not on the list.
Comment by Other John — May 20, 2009 @ 9:58 am
Other John,
I certainly agree that we need to continue investigating and reporting on what's going on at First & Main. Thanks for your observations about the center.
I like your suggestions of other supplies for the hurricane preparedness list. Definitely, food would be important to add to it!
Comment by Jenny Kincaid Boone — May 22, 2009 @ 12:33 pm
No problem Jenny. My wife and I went back there again this week and noticed that the restaurants were pretty busy, but several of the shops were extremely quiet. I'm hopeful that they can get more tenants to fill in the holes there and bring more vitality to Blacksburg, the Town sorely needs it.
Whenever we'd have hurricanes threaten, people would buy out the things that made little sense to have during a hurricane, but were right for a party. We never really stocked up on anything since we kept a ready supplie of necessities always on hand. We had a good reserve of bottled water, batteries, flashlights, radios, first aid kits, etc. for emergencies. We never needed them though, thankfully. The worst damage we ever got was a few shingles torn from the roof, some siding that peeled away, and a few fence panels blew down. Otherwise, flooding was our major threat from any hurricane or nor'easter, or a strong thunderstorm that didn't move. Because of the high water table and low elevation, any flood waters would take a day or two to recede in our neighborhood, and up to a week nearby.
Comment by Other John — May 22, 2009 @ 2:46 pm