Students Seeking a Textbook Tax Break
Utah college students are backing a bill to cut sales tax on textbook sales, which will go before lawmakers during the 2008 session. The Coalition of Higher Education for Affordable Textbooks and Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, pitched their idea to Capitol Hill Nov. 14, seeking to exempt sales tax on textbook sales.
According to the Coalition of Higher Education for Affordable Textbooks, the proposal is asking for a $4.7 million tax break, with $3.1 million coming from the state’s general fund and another $1.6 million from local and county governments and other taxing entities in the state. Janette Monson, USU Bookstore textbook manager, said, “Each would have to prove and verify that each book bought by a student is in fact for a class that the student is signed up for. This would inevitably create a lot more paperwork, but it would be a tax break for the students.”
Monson said she has seen information about the proposal but hasn’t gotten involved on behalf of the USU Bookstore.
“It really needs to be lobbied by someone other than the Bookstore, but this is something ASUSU could definitely support,” Monson said.
More than a dozen other states have been successful with the initiative, and this is the first time in Utah that students have joined in the cause to support the bill, said University of Utah Student Body President Spencer Pearson. Amy Engh, student member of the state’s Board of Regents, said the hope behind the bill is that with money saved from increasing textbook costs, which could amount to $90 a year per student, students could take additional courses each semester and finish a degree sooner than expected.
Books and supplies account for 26 percent of the total cost of attending a four-year public institution and 75 percent at two-year schools, according to a study by the U.S. Office of Accountability.
Even through the various programs, such as buy-back options, book rentals, and used books, Monson said students are still asked to pay exceptionally high prices for books. Monson also mentioned book prices are not flexible and are largely set by publishing costs.
The proposal was first mentioned at the Utah Student Association meeting in May. Since then, students have gathered support from all nine public state institutions as well as endorsements from student body presidents at Brigham Young University, LDS Business College and Westminster College, Engh said.
“I would like to see this bill passed solely because it is a savings for the students,” Monson said on behalf of the Bookstore. “Providing a textbook tax break would be highly beneficial for USU students.”
USU College of Agriculture Sen. Lisa Woodworth said, “This bill is a positive step toward making a post-secondary education more affordable for everyone. Books are overpriced and tuition increases every semester, so every little bit can help.”
The students would welcome it and be excited about the proposed bill, Woodworth said.
“Anything that can increase the opportunity for students to learn and attain a formal education is great,” she said.
ASUSU President Peter McChesney was unavailable to comment on USU’s involvement in the bill. -m.l.r@aggiemail.usu.edu