Business

The next state sales tax holiday is approaching as students prepare to head back to school.
During the holiday, Aug. 6-8, certain school supplies, clothing and footwear will be exempt from state sales tax, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation.
Each school supply must cost $20 or less and each item of clothing and footwear must cost $100 or less, according to the site.
Some computer supplies also are included in the list. Retailers may add additional items if they absorb the sales tax.
For a list of exempt items, see www.tax.virginia.gov.

The leading proposal to get Virginia out of the liquor business is calling for privatizing retail and wholesale operations, and auctioning licenses to distributors and sellers of spirits.
Under that plan, Virginia could issue 500 to 800 licenses across the state according to a distribution formula, the governor’s senior policy adviser, Eric Finkbeiner, told lobbyists, lawmakers and others at a meeting of the state government reform and restructuring commission.

Nitrogen-inflated tires, the big buzz for the past couple of years in the automotive world, could save consumers at least $100 a year on fuel and tires, said Jeff Campbell, owner of Twin County Tire & Auto, located on North Main and Webster streets in Galax.

Two Crossroads Institute-based projects seeking grants from the Virginia Tobacco Commission appear to have made their cases for financial assistance.
Staff members made recommendations for the entire commission to consider grant awards later this month.
They sifted through 24 requests for a total of $21.5 million in financial support for special projects. With an available balance of less than $8.3 million, the staff recommended no award for six requests, referred seven to other committees and simply tabled three.