I would submit one probably wasn’t too surprised by Seattle, Philadelphia and a host of California cities adopting additional taxes on sugary beverages, so-called soda taxes, but Utah?? Well, it seems that the soda tax proposal is part of an array of Tax Reform Proposals being entertained by the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force…
Read More »Last week, we advised you that the DC Council amended the District sales tax in order to grab an extra 2% sales tax on the sale of sugary drinks. Without wasting any time at all, this week, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau introduced a new measure that would replace the sales tax increase with a new excise…
Read More »On the subject of increasing taxes, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont put himself front and center with submission of his FY2020 state budget. The spending plan, which Lamont rolled out last week, includes a new 1.5 cents per ounce tax on sugary beverages which he projected would raise over $163 million. Although a number of cities…
Read More »As we know, the city of Seattle passed its new 1.75 cents per ounce tax on soda and other sugary drinks in June 2017 and made it effective January 2018. Almost one year since to the day, the city is boasting soda tax receipts of over $16.9 million – almost $2 million in revenue beyond…
Read More »Two other states sent questions to the voters about soda taxes and the voters gave one a yes and the other a no. Oregon voters rejected Measure 103 by an overwhelming margin of 57 – 43%. The proposal would have banned most new taxes on grocery items – especially soda and other sugary beverages. The…
Read More »With just over 10 days until the critical 2020 midterm elections on November 6, this is a good time to underscore the importance of small business men and women exercising their civic duty to vote – and protect your business interests. Aside from the Senatorial and Congressional battles around the country, there are a number…
Read More »With its egregious soda tax legislation having been ratified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court a few months ago, the Philadelphia City Council has now turned its eye to another business-killing idea. They announced they’ll hold a public hearing on October 30 to review restrictive scheduling legislation pending before the body. The legislation, introduced back in…
Read More »Out in the “other Washington” (that would be the state), voters in November will be asked to prohibit local communities from imposing additional taxes on groceries including soda or other sugary beverages. If passed, Initiative 1634 would not affect Seattle’s tax on soda, syrups and sugary beverages of 1.75 cents per ounce, but it will…
Read More »Voters in Washington State will have the opportunity to do the same thing that California legislators did a few months ago when I-1634 is on the ballot in November. Initiative-1634 is an initiative petition that would prohibit local communities from levying new or increased taxes, fees or assessments on raw or processed foods, beverages, or…
Read More »Soda taxes have been challenged by business interests across the country and have largely been given the judicial green light more often than not. In at least two jurisdictions over the next few months, questions surrounding the tax will go before the voters over different issues. First, in Boulder Colorado, which implemented a 2 cents-per-ounce levy…
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