Show Repealing food tax ft Estimated cost to higher education 31 million y Christa Mckinnon Managing Editor N November 6 Utah ON O voters will decide whether or not to remove sales tax on food According to the Chamber of Commerce if this initiative is could reduce state and local tax revenues by approximately approximate approximate- ly million per year This would mean a total loss proximately million per year This would mean a total loss of 31 million dollars dollars dollars dol dol- dol- dol lars t to higher education Proponents of the food tax removal contend that exempting exempting exempting ex ex- ex- ex empting food would make sales tax far less regressive It Itis Itis Itis is estimated that families at atthe atthe atthe the poverty line would save third one-third of their food income income income in in- come while middle and upper bracket families would save sixth one-sixth of theirs Another study shows that the average household in Utah could have hav a tax savings of a year However according to Kathy Boswell Assistant to the President of if the initiatives are successful it could have a very devastating impact on higher tion Boswell contends that fig figures res estimate tuition Food Tax Continued from page 1 There would be no salary increases increases increases in in- creases no new facilities no enrollment enrollment enrollment enroll enroll- ment funding making m king it necessary to cap enrollment and there would be a drastic cut in the amount of financial aid available Boswell added that with the approximately 2 million cut from the budget vocational equipment and wide school-wide computers computers computers com com- would be cut by 10 1001 t 1 s Boswell also said that if the initiative initia initia- initiative initiative tive passes the opening of the south city campus might be in jeopardy We would have no money for staffing staffing staffing staff staff- ing enrollment or new hires she said adding that the elimination of some staff and faculty may be r sary Boswell stated with the tuition increases increases increases in in- creases lack of financial aid available and a possible capping of enrollment many students who want to go to school wont won't be able to The Utah Board of Regents has stated that strong higher tt i education tradition will deteriorate in inthe inthe i the with the passage of initia- initia I I L. L tive A even as society's competitive demand for a well educated work workforce force force expands Boswell stressed We are not advocating advocating advocating ad ad- people vote one way or or- another We are just trying to educate them them about the impact of their decision |