DETROIT – As families struggle to make ends meet, one big hit to the bottom line just happened: checking off those long school supplies lists is far from cheap.
But the Michigan lieutenant governor and some local families pushed for a change to make it a little easier.
Before you can send your kids back to school, there’s probably a list of things you must pick up, which can all add up pretty quickly, and with inflation, those costs could be overwhelming for families.
“He loves robots, he loves creating things, he loves doing experiments, and he loves books,” said Symone Wilkes.
Wilkes is doing everything she can to support her 5-year-old son Dyson Wilkes’s curiosity as he heads into kindergarten.
She says things are hard right now as picking up what he needs is quite the added cost for the family.
For the Robinsons, sending Deandra Robinson to the seventh grade with all the necessities was expensive.
Deandre Robinson feels the weight of the added expense too. The supplies he and his daughter Deandra Robinson crossed off her list added up to $100.
“It’s a lot of struggling people,” said Deandre Robinson. “Times is getting hard, harder and harder.”
Thursday morning, several families were joined by Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, representatives Matt Koleszar and Nate Shannon to discuss their proposed sales tax holiday for school supplies.
The bill has already been introduced in session, but they say they’re waiting on Republican lawmakers to help move it forward.
It sounds small, but the savings would be enormous.
“This would bring direct, immediate relief to families right now and would save people across the state $38 million,” said Gilchrist.
Deandre Robinson’s priority is ensuring his daughter doesn’t have to worry about that. He says he just wants her to achieve her dreams.
“I want to get all A’s and be a straight-A student,” said Deandra Robinson. “As an adult, I want to go to college.”
A sales tax holiday would make it a little easier for them and many other Michigan families if lawmakers can get it passed.
“I think it’s great, especially with everything going on,” Wilkes said. “This really helps them afford school supplies.”
Meijer is trying to help as well, as they have lowered their prices on some of the necessities for students; The company says they will offer a 15% discount on supplies for teachers.
The National Retail Federation says families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $864 on school supplies, $168 more than in 2019.
