STATE BUDGET

First let me say that a sales tax is the most fair tax our state has. It is paid by the end consumer. If I can afford to purchase a new Lincoln car, I pay more tax than my friend who can only afford to buy a used Toyota. That is fair! The Senate’s proposed budget removes the sales tax exemption on agricultural fertilizers and crop protection chemicals used to produce food. The farmers of Washington state combine land, equipment, labor and capital with fertilizer and chemicals plus expertise to produce food. By taxing our imputes, you are using a “back door” approach to tax food! If you want to tax food, do so by putting a sales tax on food at the retail level so everyone, the end consumer, can see and pay the tax! Be up front with this! Spread the tax where it belongs — the end consumer instead of on the backs of a few farm voters. We are small farmers with two employees (my wife and myself). Your proposed tax will cost us approximately $5,000 annually (the cost of a very fine vacation.) Would our state Senators and Representatives be willing to tax themselves this amount to balance the state’s budget?

Jack Hendrix

Moses Lake