 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 32, No. 20 * November 6, 2000 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Jackson supports simplifying sales taxes By Ralph Tabor
Testifying at a recent hearing of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (l to r) are Jefferson County (Ky.) Judge/Executive Rebecca Jackson; Dearborn, Mich. Mayor Michael Guido, and Illinois State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger. Jefferson County (Ky.) Judge/Executive Rebecca Jackson gave NACo support to draft recommendations from the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP), at a hearing last week sponsored by the project. The Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP) is a state-sponsored effort to simplify and modernize the administration of sales and user taxes. During her testimony, Jackson pointed-out that “NACo went on record last March in support of the project and urged states to adopt legislation authorizing participation in the SSTP.” She also noted that NACo had been invited and had participated in most of SSTP’s meetings. She spoke against congressional proposals to mandate a single, statewide sales tax rate. “These proposals usurp the rights of states and localities,” she said, “and would be politically difficult to enact in many states. NACo is pleased that the SSTP is recommending technology-based solutions to simplify the collection of state and local sales taxes.” Other governmental witnesses testifying in support of the SSTP draft recommendations included Mayor Michael Guido of Dearborn, Mich. and Illinois State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger. Mayor Guido, representing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, expressed a concern about some cities’ needing a transition period to move from local to state administration of sales taxes. Speaking for the National Conference of State Legislatures, Sen. Rauschenberger also applauded SSTP’s decision to preserve local sales tax rates in its proposals. With technology available for retailers to determine local rates by ZIP code, he said there was no reason to establish a single rate for each state. Most of the representatives of retailer groups testified in support of the draft proposals. Several witnesses, however, urged delay of state legislation until 2002 so that all of the proposed definitions of products to be taxed could be considered at one time. Maureen Riehl, of the National Retailers Association, disagreed and urged that state sales tax simplification be sooner rather than later. Riehl said her organization and other industry groups already are preparing to lobby on behalf of SSTP’s model legislation. “Even though not all retailers issues have been addressed or supported by SSTP,” stated Riehl, “the National Retailers Federation is preparing to educate and help coordinate lobbying efforts of state retail associations and related groups in key states in 2001.” |
