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SALT LAKE CITY -- Two state senators are pushing to bring the sales tax on food back up in line with other state sales tax, according to the Deseret News.
The head of the Utah Taxpayers Association, Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, and Senate Budget Chair Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, don't mince words. They say legislators bowed to the influence of former Governor Jon Huntsman, when they, in actions over two years, reduced the tax on unprepared food to 1.75 percent. It used to be the same as the state sales tax.
These senators say it's time to bring the tax back to the full state sales tax rate of 4.7 percent. Hillyard says it could raise roughly $140 million -- significant considering the possible near-billion dollar shortfall the state faces next year.
The Utah Tax Review commission has been looking into reapplying the tax and is expected to make that recommendation this week.
