One campaign aims to “Clean the Darn Air” with ballot initiative

SALT LAKE CITY — The Clean the Darn Air campaign is trying to get an initiative on the 2024 ballot.

The amendment eliminates the state sales tax on food. It also creates a carbon tax, allocating $100 million for air quality programs and $50 million for rural economies.

“Eliminating the sales tax on groceries saves them [taxpayers] $276.  The carbon tax ends up costing them $4,” said Policy Analyst Yoram Bauman.

“And so, you know, between the $276 in savings from the sales tax on groceries and the $264 in carbon tax costs, the beehive family ends up $12 ahead.”

The Utah Taxpayers Association created the Beehive Family to illustrate the average family of five living in Utah.

“Think about it as taxing pollution instead of potatoes and using the money that’s left over to clean the darn air,” said Bauman.

Campaign Strategist London Kelley with Clean the Darn Air agreed the tax change would not cost Utahns money.

“Limiting the sales tax on grocery store foods helps everyone around the state right, to save money,” said Kelly.

“Just like everyone, most people around,  like pretty much everyone around the state is using carbon. So, we wanted to make sure that they [the taxes] relatively speaking, canceled out.”

Related: 

• Utah cities among worst for air quality in the country…but there’s some good news
• How the Great Salt Lake lakebed could contribute to pollution, other issues
• Bill introduced to remove state-imposed food sales tax