Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Gov. Otter wants to keep sales tax on groceries, grocery credit

Gov. Butch Otter sent a letter to Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill yesterday opposing the repeal of Idaho’s 6 percent sales tax on groceries; you can read it here. Otter wrote that he wanted to “clearly state my opposition,” and wrote, “People buy groceries in good times and bad, so the tax provides a steady source of revenue for the essential services of state government. As revenue fluctuates from less-stable sources it could be more difficult to fund our commitments.”

The governor wrote, “Our current system of grocery tax credits provides relief to individuals purchasing groceries while providing a steadier stream of revenue. I see no reason to change our current system and I oppose efforts to do so.”



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

Follow Betsy online: