Kenai Peninsula Borough voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on the non-prepared food tax this October.
After nearly equal amounts of testimony from both sides of the Bagley substitute, which would tax non-prepared food items six months out of the year, Homer Assembly Member Kelly Cooper pointed out…
Cooper: “I’m a mother, I’m a grandmother, I volunteered in schools, I understand the needs of the school district. But please do not play on the emotions and say that voting against sales tax on food that we are voting against children, we are not.”
Proponents of the tax testified that children’s educations are worth a minor tax and opposition of the tax stated that food is a basic necessity, there are other places to cut versus taxing food.
Assembly member Kelly Wolf made an amendment to the substitute which would put the question of whether or not Kenai Peninsula Borough residents support a half year tax on non-prepared foods to the voters in October.
Wolf: “The people did pass this twice, and I’d like to see them give us their opinion. Obviously we’ve seen their opinions and I’d like them to vote on this.”
Both the ordinance and amendment to put it on the ballot passed five to four.