Aug. 20--Cleburne and area residents will hit the stores this weekend to take advantage of the annual tax-free weekend.

The tax-free weekend begins Friday and runs through Sunday, giving families a break from sales and use taxes on clothing, footwear and backpacks priced under $100.

Classroom supplies have been added to the long list of items eligible for the discount.

The 81st Texas Legislature recently passed a measure, co-authored by state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, to expand the list of items that qualify.

"During difficult economic times, one of the best things we can do is relieve the tax burden on middle class families," Turner said. "I am proud to have co-authored legislation that expands the sales tax holiday to most school supplies, and I encourage families in our district to take advantage of the tax-free weekend."

Layaway plans can be used again to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.

Some plan to shop in Cleburne, while others will go out of town.

"I'm actually planning to go to San Marcos to the outlet mall," said Debbie Lee of Cleburne. "I usually go but not that far. I guess I'm going all out this year."

Lee will be shopping for two of her three children. She says shes like tax-free weekend because "it just helps save a few bucks here and there."

Others do not plan to go shopping during the weekend, and some even plan to avoid the stores.

"I already went shopping yesterday," said Debbie Kuklies of Cleburne. "I'd rather pay taxes than beat the crowds. It's not worth it to me to fight the crowds."

On the Web:

www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html

The following is an all-inclusive list of qualifying school supplies (if priced less than $100):

Binders

Book bags (does not include duffel or gym bags)

Calculators

Cellophane tape

Blackboard chalk

Compasses

Composition notebooks

Crayons

Erasers

Folders: expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila

Glue, paste and paste sticks

Highlighters

Index cards

Index card boxes

Legal pads

Lunch boxes

Markers

Notebooks

Paper: loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper

Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes

Pencil sharpeners

Pencils

Pens

Protractors

Rulers

Scissors

Writing tablets

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Copyright (c) 2009, Cleburne Times-Review, Texas

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