Voters’ choice: change Utah’s constitution, get rid of food sales tax

SALT LAKE CITY– In November, voters will have the option to change the state constitution. The alteration would indirectly get rid of Utah’s food sales tax.

Currently, state sales tax increases the total cost of grocery items by 1.75%. 

Last year, legislators tied the fate of the food tax to Utah’s income tax. They approved a ballot initiative that would remove the income tax earmark on education. That rule prevents income tax from going anywhere but the education system.

It would take a simple majority, 50%-plus-one-vote, of the electorate to change the Constitution, according to Ballotpedia.

Are voters in favor?

As for the odds of a constitutional change, a Deseret News poll showed stronger opposition for the change. 

The results reflected that 12% were “strongly” in favor of the change. 24% said they were “somewhat” in favor. 

Opposition was more strongly reflected as 29% said they “strongly” opposed the constitutional alteration. 21% of respondents said they “somewhat” opposed the change. Finally, 14% of the poll respondents said they didn’t know their position. 

The poll was conducted in March 2023, according to Deseret News. 

Related: Calls to remove sales tax on food, lawmakers say it’s complicated