Friday, February 3, 2012
Phillips Why Shouldn't the State Pay Sales Tax?
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 5:06 AM
I've been thinking about this stupid story about State Rep. Dale Ford wanting to give golf courses sales tax exemptions for golf carts and course maintenance items.
And lord knows I don't want to think about golf for any longer than I have to, but it seems to me that this is the wrong way to go about this. In a state that depends on sales tax like we do, letting everyone who pisses and moans out of paying sales tax means those of us who don't piss and moan loud enough get stuck with a heavier tax burden. It just rewards being a giant baby and undermines our tax base.
So, here is my question: Why can't the state come up with a list of non-essential things it does — you know, the lagniappe things like golf courses — and make those departments pay sales tax? I mean, the golf course operators who have to pay sales tax on items their competition doesn't, just because their competition is the state, have a point. It is unfair. If Private Sector Joe has $100 to spend and State Run Phil has $100 to spend, Private Sector Joe can only get $90 worth of items. State Run Phil can get $100.
So why not end the state-run golf courses' unfair tax advantage? Is it against the law for the state to pay sales tax, or is that just a privilege it has been extending itself since it is the state?
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