February 6, 2012
ENERGY STAR Tax Free Weekend Approaching.
February 18 – 20 will be Tax Free Weekend for qualified ENERGY STAR appliances in Maryland. The collection of sales tax on these products will be suspended for the weekend. During Shop Maryland Energy weekend, the following Energy Star products are tax free:
- Air conditioners
- Clothes washers and dryers
- Furnaces
- Heat pumps
- Boilers
- Solar water heaters (tax-exempt at all times now)
- Standard size refrigerators
- Dehumidifiers
- Programmable thermostats
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs
Last year, the weekend was a huge success for many MRA members. MRA will be promoting the weekend again this year.
A promotional rack card can be downloaded free from the Comptrollers Office at: http://www.marylandtaxes.com/shopmd/shopmd-energy_rackcard4x9.pdf
Frequently asked questions are at: http://www.marylandtaxes.com/shopmd/FAQs-ShopMD-Energy.pdf
Baltimore Sun to Have Special Supplement on Tax Free Weekend.
As part of the MRA partnership, the Baltimore Sun will include a feature insert on the ENERGY STAR program and the benefits of purchasing such appliances. The special insert will feature local businesses and the deals that they will be offering for this tax free event. You will be hearing from them in the very near future about the publication and the reduced rate and potential for co-op advertising money to augment your promotions for the weekend.
Right now the rate card looks like this, which is half the price for a publication such as this. Even though this insert is targeted for Tax Free Weekend, consumers tend to keep these types of publications for later reference.
Premium Positions
Back Cover, Premium Placement, includes color: $12,500
Front Page bottom half, includes color: $6,875
Interior Positions
Full: $8,000
Half: $5,750
Quarter: $3,200
Eighth: $1,800
However, these rates may go down. We are working to find a lead sponsor for the insert, which may reduce the rates even more. If you are interested in advertising in the insert, please contact:
Mike Griffith
Advertising Account Representative
Baltimore Sun Media Group
501 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21278-0001
Cell (410) 412-6535
cmgriffith@tribune.com
Two MRA Priority Bills to Be Heard in Committee.
Wednesday, February 8, two of MRA priority bills will be heard in Committee. The Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing at 1:00 p.m. on SB 408, which expands the list of vaccines that can be administered by qualified pharmacists to the list from the Centers from Disease Control (CDC). MRA was successful last year in lowering the minimum age to 9 years old from 18 years old for whom pharmacists may administer the flu vaccine.
Also on Wednesday, February 8, the House Economic Matters Committee has scheduled a hearing on HB 206, which amends the secondhand precious metals tagging requirements. This would allow secondhand precious metal dealers during the holding period to place the reported items from a single transaction into a secure container that is tagged by the dealer with the number that corresponds to the transaction under which the items were acquired and the written record listing the items obtained in the transaction. In addition, the Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, on SB 246, which is the Senate version of HB 206 and amends the secondhand precious metals tagging requirements.
See the Annapolis Report for the full schedule of hearings.
MRA Credits Card Processing Partner.
Attached is a brochure from the current MRA credit card processing partner, RCSC. Please take a minute to see how they can save your company money. They are offering a free, no-obligation savings analysis. RCSC low cost processing handles over $300 million in annual transaction volume.
Upcoming Events
MRA Legislative Committee Meeting
February 8, 2012 at MRA
MRA Legislative Committee Meeting
February 22, 2012 at MRA |
