By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

The Shelby County Commission recently approved the county’s participation in Alabama’s first severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday, which will be held July 6-8.

The City of Hoover will also participate in the tax holiday. Other Shelby County municipalities have until the June 22 deadline to register with the Alabama Department of Revenue.

A provision in the new severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday law allows counties and municipalities to join the state by removing their local sales and use taxes from the same items during the same weekend, according to a press release from the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Items that have a sales price of $60 or less per item include: batteries, AAA-cell batteries, AA-cell batteries, C-cell batteries, D-cell batteries, 6-volt batteries and 9-volt batteries; cellular phone battery; cellular phone charger; portable self-powered or battery-powered radio, two-way radio, weather-band radio or NOAA weather radio; portable self-powered light source, including battery-powered flashlights, lanterns, or emergency glow sticks; tarpaulin, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths and other flexible and waterproof sheeting; ground anchor system, such as bungee cords or rope, or tie-down kits; duct tape; plywood, window film or other materials specifically designed to protect window coverings; non-electric food storage cooler or water storage container; non-electric can opener; artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice; self-contained first aid kit; fire extinguisher; smoke detector; carbon monoxide detector; and gas or diesel fuel tank or container.

Items with a sales price of $1,000 or less include portable generators and power cords.

According to the release, beginning next year, the annual sales tax holiday for severe weather preparedness will be held during the last full weekend of February. For more information about the holiday, visit ADOR’s website at Revenue.alabama.gov.