Clock ticking on effort to eliminate Utah’s sales tax on food

SALT LAKE CITY – The debate continues on Utah’s Capitol Hill over proposals to eliminate the state portion of the sales tax on grocery food.

“When people need funds to make ends meet, this is a way to have this happen immediately,” said Rep. Rosemary Lesser, D-Ogden.

Lesser joined Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner, R-West Valley City, on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday morning to announce their joint effort to get rid of the state’s food tax.

“The effects of rising prices are felt by all of us, but especially Utahns on fixed incomes, people living paycheck to paycheck, and those who’ve had a sudden change in their financial situation,” Lesser said.

Both lawmakers are sponsoring bills to remove Utah’s 1.75% sales tax on food. They said the tax relief needs to happen at the cash register.

“Sometimes that small amount can make the difference between putting food away at the checkout counter in front of your children,” Lesser said. “That’s kind of an embarrassing thing to do.”

During the press conference, Rohner called on Utahns who agree with the proposed legislation to contact their legislators.

“Tell them how important it is to eliminate the food tax completely,” she said.

Republican leadership in the Senate said Tuesday that they see problems with removing the grocery food tax because it reduces revenue available for other services.

“So you keep cutting that sales tax fund, you actually may cut services that are being asked for,” said Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton.

“We also have to be responsible and conservative and careful and make sure we can fund the other things that are in state government,” said Senate Majority Whip Ann Millner, R-Ogden.

Adams said there have been conversations about targeting tax relief to those who need it most.

Instead of eliminating the sales tax on food, Gov. Spencer Cox has called for a grocery tax credit. Cox said the credit would give middle and lower-income families more money than they would otherwise save if the tax were repealed.

The governor’s budget recommendation also said that unlike a repeal of the tax, a credit would only provide relief to Utahns, rather than those visiting the state who purchase groceries.