In response to the various opinions, including the opinion from Utah Policy written by LaVarr Webb, regarding repealing the food tax vs a tax credit: Food tax is a regressive tax — rich people can afford to pay the tax, poor people cannot.
Regarding those on fixed income and no tax filing requirement: Now those lower or no income individuals must file a Utah state tax return to obtain the credit. Poor people are on the lowest rung — they don’t have the ability to pay someone to file a zero dollar return to obtain a credit when otherwise not required to file a tax return. Rosemary Lesser, (D) Ogden, is right — remove the sales tax on food. If needed, increase the sales tax amount for dining out, but repeal the tax when purchasing food at a grocery store.
Catherine Voutaz, Herriman