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State's Sales Tax-Free Holiday Set for Aug. 29-30

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BOSTON — The annual sales tax-free weekend will still be held this year despite the anticipated drop in state tax revenue because of the novel coronavirus.
 
The Baker-Polito administration said the tax-free weekend will take place Aug. 29-30. This marks the second sales tax holiday held under the new law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 that made the weekend an annual occurrence.
 
"The annual sales tax holiday is an opportunity for us to support small businesses and consumers, and this year, it's a great way to support our economy that's been impacted by COVID-19," said Baker in a statement. "This pandemic has created enormous challenges for the commonwealth's small businesses, and the sales tax-free weekend is one way that we can encourage more economic activity to help Main Street businesses and local economies."
 
The holiday exempts retail items for personal use (up to $2,500 per item) from the state's sales tax of 6.25 percent. It does not include such items telecommunications, cars and boats, utilities and gasoline, meals, alcoholic beverages or marijuana. See more information here.
 
The effectiveness of a the sales tax holiday has been debated for years. Last year, the Department of Revenue estimated state tax revenue losses of between $16.7 million and $37.7 million. However, the holiday is very popular with citizens and small businesses — so popular that some Pittsfield businesses held their own "tax free" promotion in 2016 when the state didn't. 
 
After two years with no tax-free holiday because of the state's financial condition, it was made a permanent holiday by law in 2018. 
 
"As the commonwealth continues its phased reopening process, we recognize that many small businesses continue to face difficulties," said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. "We are proud that our administration worked with the Legislature to enact legislation making the sales tax holiday permanent and look forward to this year's tax free weekend and the economic activity that will come with it."

 


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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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