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This weekend many Georgians may find themselves hopping the state line in search of back-to-school deals during Alabama’s tax-free weekend, which began Friday at 12:01 a.m.

Georgia will not have a tax-free weekend, with critics claiming that it costs the state too much money. The tax-free holiday was a popular event among parents, with many waiting to buy school supplies until the tax break.

Since Troup County is so close to the state line, we anticipate that meaning that some decide to head over to Opelika to spend money on school supplies. We certainly would understand the gain in doing so, though we also think it might cost more in fuel than it’s worth.

We encourage you to stay in town and shop locally, if you can, so that those tax dollars stay in our community. However, if you are going to Alabama, know that clothes, school supplies and some electronics are exempt from the state’s 4% sales tax. Some local taxes still apply too.

We know that the numbers may not know a significant change in shopping trends in Georgia during tax free weekend, but we do wish the state legislature would again consider bringing it back. It’s a major shopping day, and it saves parents a little bit extra during a time they could really use it.