Village Merchants Participate in 8.625 Percent Off Sale This Weekend

In a move to stimulate shopping in Port Jefferson, many merchants will be participating in a village-wide sale of 8.625 percent off all items on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10.

Consumers are encouraged to look for a green dollar sign poster in shop windows participating in the initiative sponsored by the Port Jefferson Economic Development Council. The sale is part of the nationwide 3/50 campaign to support main streets.

As an extra incentive, those who spend $20 in any participating store will be eligible to enter a free raffle ticket to win gift certificates from Port Jefferson restaurants.

Stacy Davidson from on East Main Street and a member of the EDC said that they have 99 percent participation in the sale this weekend by village merchants.

Though this kind of sale has never been done before, Davidson said that she hopes it will be very successful.

While merchants still must collect all applicable sales taxes, the 8.625 percent off happens to match the sales tax charged in Suffolk County with all State and local taxes applied.

The sale also happens to coincide with the announcement recently by New York State that it has restored the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear.

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance released a statement saying that from April 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012, clothing, footwear, and items used to make or repair clothing sold for less than $55 are exempt from the state’s 4 percent sales tax.