NE Valley Times

Fountain Hills trustee Allen Skillicorn wrote a letter to the editor published on June 14, sharply criticizing Gov. Katie Hobbs for vetoing SB1063, which would have eliminated municipal food taxes.

"Will Rogers said he never met a man he didn’t like," Skillicorn wrote. "Unfortunately for us, Governor Katie Hobbs’ version of that quote is she has never met a tax she didn’t like."

Skillicorn is calling for the suspension of the food tax for the month of July to help area families who are struggling to afford the high cost of food and other household necessities. Currently, Fountain Hills assesses an 8.90% sales tax on food. Skillicorn is proposing to suspend the tax for the month of July. Last July, Fountain Hills collected about $138,000 in tax revenue, Skillicorn said in the letter to the editor.

 “We have more than enough revenue to pay our bills and pay our employees,” Skillicorn wrote. “Let’s suspend the tax and begin to have a serious debate about lowering or eliminating the food tax altogether. After all, Mesa and Phoenix do not charge sales tax on food. Fountain Hills has an opportunity to provide meaningful tax relief to help our residents better afford the rising cost of living. I suggest we take it.”

“Gov. Hobbs has shown a complete lack of empathy for those who are struggling to afford basic necessities like food for their families,” Skillicorn said. “Taxing the food people need to live is cruel at any time but it is even more odious at a time when food prices are spiraling out of control.” he wrote.

The Senate bill vetoed by Hobbs had proposed that “A city, town or other taxing jurisdiction may not levy a transaction privilege, sales, use, franchise or other similar tax or fee, however denominated, with respect to: the sale of food items intended for human consumption,” followed by definitions of the foods food that would fall into this category. The bill would have taken effect in 2025. Hobbs vetoed the bill in March after it passed both the House and Senate.