No more grocery sales tax beginning Nov. 1

That stop at the grocery store will soon cost a little less.

Beginning Nov. 1, shoppers will no longer pay the 5 percent state sales tax on unprepared foods.

The tax-exempt items include any that are eligible to be purchased with Department of Agriculture food stamps.

The sales tax exemption on unprepared foods was passed by the state legislature last year as part of property tax relief reform.

The sales tax will no longer apply to foods intended to be eaten at home, including snacks, beverages and seasonings.

The sales tax will remain on meals and food sold by restaurants, lunch wagons and cafeterias. Consumers will also pay sales tax at supermarkets or similar stores that serve food for the purpose of eating near the store, such as foods designed to be heated in the store and hot and cold food to be eaten at a lunch counter or dining area.

Other items still subject to the sales tax include alcoholic beverages, hot beverages, tobacco, pet food, vitamins and overthe counter medicines.

Andrew Williams, manager of the local Wal-Mart Supercenter, said the change shouldn't be a headache.

"We are preparing for this," he said. "What we are doing is just verifying some items. The main office is handling this across the board."