Utah Attempts to Boost Revenue through Sales Tax

Utah, one of the few states that places a tax on basic food just did this in an effort to increase the tax base. They leverage a nearly 3% hike on food with a .3% decrease in taxes on other "items".

Utah Senate Passes Bill To Raise Food Tax

By Associated Press

POSTED: 1:54 pm MST February 28, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Senate passed a bill that that would raise the tax on food, but lower taxes on other items.The Senate approved Senate Bill 270 on a 19-9 vote on Monday. It now moves to the House.Republican Sen. Stuart Adams of Layton says the measure would add stability, since most food sales don't drop during an economic crisis.Under the bill, a 1.7 percent tax on food would rise to 4.4 percent.But sales taxes on other items would be lowered from 4.7 percent to 4.4 percent.Opponents say the tax hike would hurt low-income people the most, especially those with limited means to feed their families.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.