Housing and food tax during the second week of the Utah Legislature

by Bill Tibbitts

I would personally  like to thank all of the over 90 people who came to Faith & Poverty Day at the Utah Capitol last week.  You need to know that we made a difference.  Last year we fought off a bill that would have doubled the sales tax on food.  This year we are supporting a bill to completely eliminate the state portion of the sales tax on food.  

The other big issue we discussed on Thursday was issuing a $100 million bond  to address Utah's housing crisis.  On Friday, the Democrats in the Legislature announced that this is one of their five priorities this year.  Over the coming weeks we will be working to convince Republicans from cities that also have severe housing challenges to support this idea.  We will be meeting every Thursday in February at 10 AM in the Seagull Room of the Senate Building -- starting this Thursday, February 1, 2018.

Together we can help legislators to focus more of their time and attention on the needs of low income people during the remaining 40 days of the state legislative session.

Call to Action from Utah Housing Coalition:
Protect local housing funding

This morning the Utah Housing Coalition sent out the following action alert about a bill that would eliminate a requirement that certain local funds be used to create affordable housing:

The most important Bill this week (right now)
HB0111
Community Reinvestment Agency Modifications
This bill removes the housing allocation requirement for certain community reinvestment project areas; and makes technical changes
 
This bill is anticipated to be heard in House Revenue and Taxation Committee Tomorrow Tuesday January 30th 2:00 pm 
 
Members of the Committee 
Rep. Steve Eliason, Chair seliason@le.utah.gov
Rep. Douglas V. Sagers, Vice Chair dougsagers@le.utah.gov
Rep. Joel K. Briscoe jbriscoe@le.utah.gov
Rep. Gage Froerer gfroerer@le.utah.gov   
Rep. Brian M. Greene bgreene@le.utah.gov  
Rep. Ken Ivory kivory@le.utah.gov
Rep. Brian S. King briansking@le.utah.gov  
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee karilsonbee@le.utah.gov
Rep. Jefferson Moss jeffersonmoss@le.utah.gov
Rep. Tim Quinn tquinn@le.utah.gov
Rep. Robert M. Spendlove rspendlove@le.utah.gov
Rep. Jon E. Stanard jstandard@le.utah.gov
Rep. Brad R. Wilson bradwilson@le.utah.gov
 
Please contact the committee. Message is very simple. 
At a time we are struggling with housing people can afford in our State is not the time to take away a tool that helps put housing in our communities. 
 
Have a nice week. Tara
 
Tara Rollins, Executive Director
Utah Housing Coalition
230 South 500 West, Suite 216
SLC, UT 84101
801.364.0077
801.815.5014 Cell
www.utahhousing.org  
www.utahforeclosureprevention.com

Representative Tim Quinn talking about his bill to eliminate the state portion of the sales tax on food at Faith & Poverty Day at the Utah Capitol on January 25, 2018.

Legislative Democrats endorse $100 million bond for housing!

On Friday Democrats in the Utah Legislature sent out an email listing a $100 million bond for affordable housing. This is one of CORC's top priorities this year.