Otter wants to keep grocery tax

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.”