Wark: Greeley can end its food tax this year

They say only death and taxes are certainties in life, but for Greeley voters, the city food tax certainly can be eliminated.

Have you been grocery shopping recently?

It sure makes you rethink that junk mail offer of a new credit card, doesn’t it?

But seriously, the cost of food, like everything else, has increased substantially in recent years.

I don’t know about you, but I grew up in a frugal household, so I always turn off lights when I leave the room, make sure the thermostat is set at a reasonable level, and always look for sales at the store.

And I gotta tell you, digital coupons are a lifesaver when it comes to shopping these days.

But no matter how many coupons I use, it seems like my receipt has a number higher than the average person’s IQ.

The thing about groceries is that everyone needs them. It’s not like you can go without food.

So, there’s no escaping the increased costs of food these days.

We all know that times are tough. I have friends who have seen their mortgage payment increase by over $500 per month due to the increase in property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

And these friends have two kids. I can’t imagine what their grocery bill looks like every month!

Like I said, I’m frugal, so I’m always looking for a deal.

Turns out, so were the voters in Loveland last year.

They eliminated their 3% food tax through a citizen initiative.

Voters must have been looking for a deal on groceries, because they passed the measure with a vote of 66% for and only 34% against!

Eliminating the food tax is like a digital coupon that saves you money every time you shop.

Loveland voters made the right decision to help seniors, working class families and literally everyone who eats food in their city!

Now, voters in another Northern Colorado city have the opportunity to save on their grocery bills.

Greeley, the Meat Producing Capitol of Colorado (don’t quote me on that) will be presenting their voters with a question on whether to keep the city’s 3% food tax in place.

You see, Greeley’s food tax has a sunset provision, meaning that voters have to approve its continuation every five years.

At their August 20 meeting, the Greeley City Council will vote as to whether or not the food tax extension will be on the November ballot.

Citizens will have the opportunity to provide public comment on whether this is a good idea.

Since I moved to Greeley earlier this year, I’ll be there to voice my opposition to the food tax and ask the council members to do the reasonable thing and stop the food tax.

Hey, if Loveland can do it, so can we!

Greeley is a great place to live, but it’s not immune to the pressures of the bad economy.

Homelessness, evictions and layoffs are happening here, just like everywhere else in Colorado.

If city council members really had the best interests of Greeley residents in mind, they’d kill of the food tax themselves, but I’m under no illusion. I’m certain the city council will send the food tax extension to voters.

You see, that tax money is “feeding” the growth of the city government.  And as is usual, it’s up to voters to protect their own pocketbooks.

I’m confident Greeley voters will choose to save money on food and tell the city government to cut back.

After all, we’ve had to cut back on our shopping lists, now it’s their turn to do the same.

More information on ending Greeley’s food tax is available here.

Brandon Wark is a Greeley resident and runs the Free State Colorado website.