Comments about ‘Most Utahns don't want to revive food tax to help state budget’

We have been living in Utah about a year and thought that the state leaders here had a better than average idea about how to guide things with sound wisdom.

Anytime, elected officials decide to raise taxes in a recession-nearly a depression-we just have to shake our heads and wonder where the wisdom went.

This is particularly true when it comes to taxing essentials like food. In fact, there should not be any tax on primary foods. Any tax at all should be on candies, prepackaged stuff, desserts and the like.

State officials shouldn't put the burden of running the budget on the dinner plates of Utah families.

Why does the State of Utah have so many, and such high taxes?

There are States around us that do not have a State income tax. There are nearby States that do not have a sales tax of any kind. And some that don't have a sales tax on food at all.

Yet the State of Utah has taxes of all kinds, and wants even more. At what point will the State have enough of our money, and allow us to keep more of what we earn?

Utah legislators are pathetic...instead of cutting wasteful spending they think of ways to take more of our money. Throw the selfish people out! Stop buying expensive cars for state employees to drive around. Stop spending large sums on state pension funds and cut spending for the health insurance benefits. Time for the state employees to be paid and get benefits like the rest of us normal people.

There is PLENTY OF FAT to cut. Takes a smart, honest politician to stand up to these dumb ideas. When the economy dips, the government needs to stop spending just like the rest of us.

Tax food? Brilliant. At some point, you have to start trimming the fat out of the state budget. Granted, our legislators have done a better job than those is many other states. That doesn't mean they can't do more.

The best way to cut state spending on health benefits is to have a single payer health system. That way, as an employer, the state wouldn't be liable at all. And, you could become a state employee, and forgo the pension benefit. You could stay 'normal' and save one pension, to which you would have contributed throughout your career. You could have taken that career of contributions and lost it on the market like rest of us. Have a nice day.

Why don't we put all of the tax exemptions on the table? There are exemptions for prescription drugs that they haven't taken away. There are exemptions for medical devices that they are not considering. Please, let's make sure the little people pay for the recession.

Or, here's an idea. Let's put all of the exemptions that the legislature has granted to businesses over the past 20 or 30 years and discuss them.

PC Res, The majority of state employees are not over paid. If the state paid the market rate they would get a 10-20% raise. The state budget should not be balanced on the backs of the state employees.

Taxing food is an idea whose time has passed. C'mon, Utah legislators, don't be dinosaurs and re-impose a bad tax.

I moved here from Maryland about a year ago and was surprised that the taxes were so high. Maryland has one of the highest tax rates in the US and Utah must not be far behind. Sales taxes are higher here, car registration is about 4 times as much. Property taxes are comparable based on the value of the property but houses cost a lot more in Maryland. I guess I'll find out in a few months how high the income tax is. One thing I found odd about UT is that food sales tax is reduced but not OTC drugs.

My concern with each new tax or increase in tax is where the money is going. I realize that some taxes are necessary, but there has to be a limit and responsibility in how it is spent.

Any legislator seriously thinking of raising taxes need to have their head examined and then voted out of office as soon as possible.

Why is there no talk about disposing of the optional state income tax.

Where is the evidence our former income tax kept quality companies away?

I read in the news only one instance of why a company didn't come to/ or left Utah,

It was I=Omega

The CEO at the time mentioned Utah's liquor laws, I would imagine the night life also has something to do with it, unless you are an outdoors person, Utah doesn't have a good reputation in this dept.

The type of people who become corporate leaders are hard workers, and they are hard players, they don't want to come to what they percieve as a dull state.

Why not get rid of the optionial state flat tax, and do not raise food taxes. That hurts the most needy among us, even if there are rebates, not all needy will qualify for them.

It is the fairest tax. Families with more kids, eat more food, making them pay their fair share for school services provided.

If you don't want to pay the tax, grow your own or eat less. Hey, what do you know? It is fair and can make the State healthier!!! Go out and grow your food, or eat less. It is a win-win situation.

So far, all the comments posted here reflect my own feelings completely. Let's band together and oppose this. Get in touch with your legislators! Write, call, e-mail!!!

Utah is one of only a handful of states that taxes food which impacts the poor far greater than any other class. I guess our legislators want Utah back in the dark ages after our governor tried to lead us out.

is wrong and an idiocy thing to do! Many states do have higher sales taxes than Utah does. Instead of taxing food, they could raise the sales tax 1% from what it is and this would likely help the budget pay for the services needed. I live in Washington State and we have no state income tax and we don't tax foods. Our car registration is only $45 average. The sales tax however is 8.9%, but it doesn't bother me. And property taxes are about 1% of the house value. I love that there is no income tax. More privacy and no worries about watching your tax expenditures on your paycheck or filing for it. I wish we would get the national sales tax implemented and put it at say 8% and get rid of the federal income tax. No more filings to worry about and this tax would pay for much more and the economy would rise quickly. As for taxes on food, that's a shame and any legislator wanting to do this should be tarred and feathered. Food is a necessity item, therefore do not tax it!

Why not increase the tax on alcohol? It has record sales. Restoring the food tax is wrong!

Tax the religious organizations,you would have a windfall!

Welcome to socialism. This Obamaland mentality is becoming boring and scary. If Utahan's fear the raising of sales tax on food, what are they going to do when they have to start paying several hundred dollars a month for the health care insurance tax?

If you people don't want to pay more taxes and want taxes cut they must also give up any welfare and social services, including health care.

And why are people so jealous of others making enough income to pay for their own health care insurance? These are people not in the government benefit lines and expecting government to be their benefactors. The people standing in lines at government welfare offices are the real problem for america and you do not have that right to expect me to pay you welfare.

We all could afford to pay our own health care if you were paid a wage that you can pay for it yourself. This can only happen if labor organizes and demands a higher share of income from business profits. That's what you have earned, a share of business profits for the years and loyalty to your jobs, not my wallet.

The first family has TWO incomes, makes well over 100K and can afford the added tax. Of course they don't mind as much. Take a POOR family and they can't afford it.

Lets see...


Lets say you make $80,000 and have 5 kids 7 total deductions, and 10% tithing how much are you really paying in taxes?

In 2008 it cost $8200 per student. So this family of 5 kids cost the state $41000 in education alone

So obviously, someone is being taxed to subsidize this family.

Do this also constitute Socialism?

I live in Illinois where we pay 7.6% tax on everything, including food. Get over it Utahns.