Some of those who oppose a sales tax on food say there hasn’t been enough public discussion on the impact Initiated Measure 15 has on poor and hungry families in South Dakota.
The measure asks voters to approve a one percent increase in sales taxes with the revenue going to cover education and Medicaid.
Those who support Measure 15 say both education and Medicaid in South Dakota are in real need of financial help. Cathy Brechtelsbauer is a citizen who is speaking out against Measure 15. She says the initiative fails to achieve its goals because it disproportionately hurts the poor and hungry.
“K-12 and Medicaid are certainly important, but the sales tax increase is like trying to patch a hole in one side of the roof using shingles from the other side of the roof, because there are consequences with the sales tax increase there is more hunger more deprivation more stress in families because the cost of living goes up, and these things actually reduce educational attainment and they worsen health,” says Brechtelsbauer.
Brechtelsbauer says that the discussion on this measure has failed to focus on the erosion of food security for many people in the state. She says removing the tax on food from proposed increase would still raise over 160 million dollars annually.
