The Kansas Legislature could have axed the sales tax on food promptly. Read that again.
Instead, Republican leaders have chosen to draw it out incrementally — essentially sticking it to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a democrat up for re-election, who made axing the tax a priority for the session.
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Jason Tidd reports that HB 2106 — which Kelly has promised to sign — waits until after Election Day to start a gradual cut. The rate will drop from its current 6.5% sales tax to 4% on Jan. 1, then 2% a year later, then 0% at the start of 2025.
The 6.5% state tax rate is the second-highest in the country.
Democrats initially opposed the plan but “something is better than nothing,” said Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa.
“I guess crumbs are better than nothing,” said Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, D-Prairie Village. He said the Legislature “settled for a bunt when we could have hit a homerun.”
We understand this line of thinking from the Democrats, but it’s also important to note that more immediate tax relief was possible. Republican leaders chose not to pursue that path. We think they owe taxpayers — and voters — an explanation.
Tidd reports Republicans say axing the tax so quickly would be no different than former Gov. Sam Brownback’s income tax experiment that devastated the state’s revenues.
“If you don’t learn from history, you tend to repeat it,” Sen. John Doll, R-Garden City.
But this isn’t Sam Brownback’s Kansas anymore and the state is in a very different financial situation. Furthermore, using a Brownback boogeyman excuse is not comparing like with like.
Fiscal reports show state coffers are brimming with surplus revenue. The state is currently projected to have a $3.1 billion budget surplus at the end of fiscal year 2023. Cutting the food sales tax would cost roughly $500 million a year.
We can afford to do this. It’s basic math. We should be doing it sooner.
Sales tax rules changes can occur at the start of a calendar quarter. So actually — the change could occur July 1 or Oct. 1, about a month before Election Day.
It’s a shame Republican leaders chose to attempt to score political points rather than create a win for everyone.
