Gov. Matt Blunt has enacted the state’s Show-Me Green Tax Holiday for Energy-Star appliances, making only the fourth state in the country to enact this environmentally-friendly tax holiday.

Said Blunt, “”This Show-Me Green Tax Holiday rewards Missouri families that make environmentally-friendly choices that are good for energy efficiency and good for their family budget.”

Now, for one week every April, the state will forgive state sales tax on Energy-Star certified appliances. The holiday will start on April 19 and end on April 25. All sales of Energy-Star certified new appliances, up to $1,500, will be exempt from state sales tax.

The legislation also allows 100 percent of the cost of a home energy audit, conducted by a certified energy auditor, and the costs of implementing any of the recommendatons made in any such energy audit, to be deducted from a taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income.
The deduction is limited to $1,000 per year.

PET PHOTO CONTEST: Rolla area pet owners are invited to compete for cash and prizes in the 2008 Summer Cutest Pet Photo Contest. The grand prize is $1,000.
The International Pet Owners Club is the sponsor of the contest.
The contest is open to everyone and the entry is free.
Dog or cat owners can enter by submitting a photo of their pet.
Entries can be submitted online or by mail. To enter online, go to www.intpetclub.com. To enter by mail, send photo and photographer’s name and address on the back to The Pet Club Photo Contest, P.O. Box 4470, Olathe, KS 66063. Aug. 15 is the postmark deadline.

FOR FLOOD VICTIMS: The U.S. Small Business Administration is encouraging participating 7(a) and Certified Development Company lenders to provide deferment relief of three or more months for borrowers in Missouri and five other states that were declared federal disaster areas following the recent flooding in the midwest.
Business owners interested in learning more about the deferments should go to www.sba.gov and look under “Local Resources” for the nearest SBA office to contact.

WILSON COMMITTEE: Friends for Wilson, a committee formed to support the candidacy of Don E. Wilson, who is running for a seat on the Phelps County Commission, has filed a disclosure report for the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Wilson is running as a Democrat.
His disclosure report said that so far during the campaign period the committee has raised $5,030 and spent $4,459.36. The committee still has $570.64 in the bank.