Shoppers won't save as much as they did in past years with the 2016 back-to-school sales tax. (FILE PHOTO)

By Kelly Tyko of TCPalm

State lawmakers let us down.

After giving us a 10-day sales tax holiday last August, the longest since 2007, this year we only are getting a three-day tax break from Aug. 5-7.

Both Gov. Rick Scott and the House of Representatives had proposed another 10-day back-to-school holiday, but those plans to save Florida shoppers $68.8 million were scaled back by the Senate.

Now we are expected to just save $28.7 million in state and local sales tax, a whopping $40.1 million less than last year.

There's more bad news.

Lawmakers also have lowered the thresholds for clothing, shoes and accessories that will be tax-free from $100 to $60. The threshold for clothing has been $100 since 2014 and was $75 for three years prior. In 2010, the threshold was $50.

Select school supplies selling for $15 or less will also be tax-free, which has not changed from previous years.

Besides the hit to savings on clothes and shoes, lawmakers also eliminated the tax savings on computers, tablets and other electronics. On a $750 computer, there was a tax savings of about $45.

With 10 days to shop tax-free last year, I expected stores to be less crowded and for shoppers to not feel the same urgency as they did with the three days.

I was wrong and found packed parking lots, longer lines and steady crowds during the 10 days.

"It's not the onslaught that it was when it was just three days," James Miller, communications director for the Florida Retail Federation told me in August. "But stores are busy and the traffic is more consistent."

Local mall and store officials told me the 10-day holiday with two weekends helped families spread out purchases. It encouraged shoppers to shop more, which in the end helped the state and local economy.

Many shoppers told me they'd use the savings to buy items that weren't tax-free too.

When lawmakers felt the state needed to cut back to three days, I wish they would have kept the $100 limit and technology break in effect.

In 2014 under those conditions, shoppers saved an estimated $39.3 million during the three-day tax holiday or $10.6 million more than what we will save with the 2016 holiday.

While I'm disappointed with the changes to the 2016 tax holiday, I'm grateful we're getting some relief. It's still better than no tax holiday, which happened in 2008 and 2009.

With a limited window to shop tax-free, it means we'll have to be more strategic and prepared when we brave the crowds.

Or we can avoid the crowds altogether and reap the tax discount by purchasing eligible items online.

Beware of shipping fees, which are a deal killer. Always look for free shipping codes and other online coupons. Choose in-store pickup or ship-to-store where available to save.

And remember, just because we'll save on tax doesn't necessarily mean that the prices will be the lowest. Stores may offer better deals and coupons before or after the short holiday.

MORE DISAPPOINTMENTS

Two other proposed tax holidays — hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday and an energy-efficient appliance holiday — won't be returning this year.

Also not happening: the first Small Business Saturday Sales Tax Holiday, the first Technology Sales Tax Holiday and a Hunting and Fishing Sales Tax Holiday.

The three one-day sales holidays would have saved shoppers a combined $74.5 million.

Sales tax would have been waived on items up to $1,000 purchased at small businesses on Nov. 26, which is the day after Black Friday. It would have saved shoppers $43.1 million and encouraged more to shop local.

If the technology holiday was approved, April 21, 2017 would have been a great day to buy the newest smartphone or laptop.

The proposed technology holiday differed from the provisions included in the back-to-school holiday because more items, including cellphones, were included and the cap was $1,000. Shoppers would have saved an estimated $21.8 million.

The smallest of the three was the fishing and hunting holiday on Aug. 20, which would have saved $3.3 million on the sale of firearms, ammunition, tents and fishing supplies.