The Utah state sales tax on food is no longer excusable because our tax surplus makes eliminating it affordable this year. When we cut taxes, sales tax on food should be the first to go. Utah is one of a few states that still have a food tax; most states manage without it. Removing the food tax would make significant improvements in the budgets of struggling families. We will find other funds to pay for programs currently supported by the food tax.
My favorite substitute is eliminating some of the tax breaks our Legislature has granted to corporations. The bill removing the food tax has passed in the Utah House and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will sign it, but it is held up in the Senate. Let your state senator know that you want the sales tax on food removed completely.
Theodore Gurney Jr.
Salt Lake City