Sen. Duff Kicks Off State's Sales Tax Holiday

State Sen. Bob Duff (D-Darien/Norwalk) kicked off the state's 2011 Sales Tax Holiday on Friday with an appearance outside of 's Post Road storefront.

The weeklong event — which runs from Sunday, Aug. 21 to Saturday, Aug. 27 — gives Connecticut shoppers the chance to buy clothing and footwear items under $300 without being charged sales tax.

The exclusion applies to each item sold, regardless of how many are grouped into one purchase.

"At one point this year, Connecticut’s tax-free week was going to be cancelled in order to help balance the state budget deficit, but the legislature decided to maintain it," Sen. Bob Duff said in a statement. "It was estimated that canceling the sales tax holiday would have brought in an addition $4.2 million in tax revenue, meaning state residents will save that much in the coming week."

Duff was joined Friday by business owners, shoppers, and Darien Chamber of Commerce President Carol Wilder-Tamme.

"For some shoppers, it is a nice savings and it means they might buy a couple 'extras' for others, it could mean grocery money might go a bit farther this month," Wilder-Tamme said in a statement. "For home town retailers, folks doing 'extra' shopping can help them try and make up losses from the flat sales during last winter’s ice and snow storms."

Complete terms and conditions for the sales tax holiday can be found here.