Soda tax goes to Santa Fe voters May 2

[TexasTowelie]

After more than three hours of testimony at a public hearing that drew hundreds to City Hall, the Santa Fe City Council late Wednesday decided to ask voters this spring whether the city should impose a tax on sugary beverages to generate funds for early childhood education programs.

With Councilor Ron Trujillo dissenting, the mayor and council majority adopted a series of last-minute amendments before finally voting to schedule a special election for May 2.

Statements from both supporters and opponents highlighted what already has become a stark division in the community over the wisdom of joining municipalities in other states that have adopted such a tax. The issue pits those who see it both as a health issue and a way to fund prekindergarten education against those who argue that it will cost jobs, prompt consumers to shop elsewhere and unfairly burden certain businesses and taxpayers.

The proposal to levy a 2-cents-an-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, from sodas and energy drinks to Kool-Aid concentrates and Gatorade, is being championed by Mayor Javier Gonzales, who made city funding of early childhood education a key part of his platform when he campaigned for mayor three years ago.

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/soda-tax-goes-to-voters-may/article_c7182d51-751d-527d-b970-e2d40d54dc7f.html

[Warpy]

1. 2 cents an ounce is excessive

and will do everything the opponents say it will. I'm all for a tax that makes the icky sweet, sugared stuff more expensive than alternatives, but this tax is punitive, $1.28 on a 2 liter bottle of soda, doubling the price of even store brands. Most kids around here become lactose intolerant during their school years and this tax will hit their families hard.

If they'd proposed a tax up to or below half a cent an ounce, I might be on board. This one is outrageous.

[RoadhogRidesAgain]

2. Rediculous

Any sort of taxation on soda or attempting to control what people eat is stupidity and it's the kind of stuff democrats do to shoot themselves in the foot. I have to pay more just because some people refuse to work out?

[peacebuzzard]

3. What was the result of this vote?

.?

[TexasTowelie]

4. Thanks for the prompt.

The soda tax vote in Santa Fe was rejected.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2017-05-02/the-latest-santa-fe-soda-tax-vote-draws-crowds

Santa Fe election officials confirm the proposed tax on sugary soda and other sweetened beverages has failed.

Santa Fe County Clerk Yolanda Vigil announced Tuesday that the initiative failed with 11,533 votes against and only 8,382 votes in favor.

A political committee backed by the soft drink industry says the election results show strong opposition to the soda tax and its burden on businesses and working-class families.

The tax would have boosted city funding for pre-kindergarten programs in the New Mexico capital by about $7.5 million a year.

[peacebuzzard]

5. Thanks for update

..