Voices of the Peninsula: Vote Yes on Proposition 1 for seasonal grocery tax relief

  • By James Price
  • Wednesday, September 30, 2015 7:34pm
  • Opinion

Proposition One is our grocery tax referendum that will GET RID OF THE SEASONAL/WINTER GROCERY TAX (September through May) in the cities of Soldotna and Seldovia, and will keep it off in Homer:

■ In 2008 VOTERS APPROVED a seasonal grocery tax exemption which removed the borough’s 3% sales tax.

■ The 2008 exemption WAS AUTHORIZED TO ALSO REMOVE THE CITIES’ GROCERY TAX during the winter. HOWEVER, just 3 weeks before the 2008 election, the Borough Assembly approved Ordinance 2008-28 which authorized the general law cities TO CONTINUE TO TAX YOUR GROCERIES ANYWAY, thereby DISENFRANCHISING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS

■ Proposition One WILL UPHOLD the other half of the 2008 voter approved grocery tax exemption by REPEALING Ordinance 2008-28 and will REMOVE THE BOROUGH’S AUTHORIZATION for general law cities to continue to tax your winter groceries.

Proposition One is designed to provide direct tax relief for residents at minimum cost to local government:

■ The city of Soldotna’s total revenue has increased by over $1,680,000 from FY2013 to FY2014, according to their latest financial report. That’s about twice the amount they take from residents through Borough Ordinance 2008-28, that authorized them to ignore the 2008 voter approved initiative. SOLDOTNA ALREADY HAS ADEQUATE REVENUE!

■ Homer currently does not tax food in the winter, BUT has passed an ordinance to tax some food items beginning in January… UNLESS Proposition One passes.

■ The tax that we seek to repeal is NOT for education and NOT for general borough use.

■ Our Borough has operated without additional tax increases since 2008, when our Boroughwide grocery tax exemption was approved by the voters. Both borough and municipal sales tax revenues are currently at an all-time high.

■ This will put Borough merchants on a level playing field with the sales tax-free policy of our Anchorage neighbors by eliminating grocery tax for nine months of each year.

Proposition One will reduce the tax burden for all local, year-round residents:

■ Proposition One will help everyone, including local families and those on fixed incomes, including the elderly.

■ Food is a basic necessity of life. Proposition One reflects our values and will help us build a stronger community.

Why Now?

■ We have been forced to wait several years for this election because the Borough Clerk refused to certify our original referendum application. The Alaska Supreme Court forced the Borough to accept our referendum application after years of litigation in the state court system.

■ The Supreme Court decision granted YOU the right to decide. A YES vote will force the general law cities to follow the 2008 voter approved seasonal grocery tax exemption.

Please Vote YES on Proposition One, at the October 6th Borough Election.

— Submitted by James Price,
Alaskans for Grocery Tax Relief Now

More in Opinion

A cherished "jolly Santa head" ornament from the Baisden Christmas tree. (Photo provided)
Opinion: Reflections of holidays past

Our family tradition has been to put up our Christmas tree post-Thanksgiving giving a clear separation of the holidays

Screenshot. (https://dps.alaska.gov/ast/vpso/home)
Opinion: Strengthening Alaska’s public safety: Recent growth in the VPSO program

The number of VPSOs working in our remote communities has grown to 79

Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings participates in the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL candidate forum series, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: I’m a Soldotna Republican and will vote No on 2

Open primaries and ranked choice voting offer a way to put power back into the hands of voters, where it belongs

Nick Begich III campaign materials sit on tables ahead of a May 16, 2022, GOP debate held in Juneau. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: North to a Brighter Future

The policies championed by the Biden/Harris Administration and their allies in Congress have made it harder for us to live the Alaskan way of life

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Vote yes to retain Judge Zeman and all judges on your ballot

Alaska’s state judges should never be chosen or rejected based on partisan political agendas

A vintage Underwood typewriter sits on a table on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Point of View: District 6 needs to return to representation before Vance

Since Vance’s election she has closely aligned herself with the far-right representatives from Mat-Su and Gov. Mike Dunleavy

The Anchor River flows in the Anchor Point State Recreation Area on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Opinion: Help ensure Alaskans have rights to use, enjoy and care for rivers

It is discouraging to see the Department of Natural Resources seemingly on track to erode the public’s ability to protect vital water interests.

A sign directing voters to the Alaska Division of Elections polling place is seen in Kenai, Alaska, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Vote no on Ballot Measure 2

A yes vote would return Alaska to party controlled closed primaries and general elections in which the candidate need not win an outright majority to be elected.

Derrick Green (Courtesy photo)
Opinion: Ballot Measure 1 will help businesses and communities thrive

It would not be good for the health and safety of my staff, my customers, or my family if workers are too worried about missing pay to stay home when they are sick.

A sign warns of the presence of endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Could an unnecessary gold mine drive Cook Inlet belugas extinct?

An industrial port for the proposed Johnson Tract gold mine could decimate the bay