Advocates pushing for further grocery tax reduction in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama lawmakers say they are hearing from their constituents, and food costs are a big concern.

“They care more about their groceries right now,” said state Rep. Penni McClammy, D-Montgomery County. “Of course we care about education. Don’t get me wrong. Let’s see what we can do to get Alabamians a relief.”

Last session, lawmakers passed legislation to gradually cut the state’s 4% grocery tax by half. It dropped to 3% last year.

The goal was to get it to 2% this year, but that is not happening.

A prerequisite for the cut was for estimated tax collections for the Education Trust Fund to go up at least 3.5%. Right now, officials say estimates are a little less than 2%.

For now, Alabamians will have to wait.

“They are very grateful for the 1 cent grocery tax reduction, but they are also, in many times, frustrated that we did not cut the full 4 cent of the grocery tax,” said Akiesha Anderson with Alabama Arise, a group that helps people living in poverty.

The group says a possible solution is amending last year’s grocery tax cut and requiring a 2% Education Trust Fund prerequisite.

Alabama Arise says if the tax is lowered further, the Education Trust Fund will still have enough money to fulfill its current obligations to the state’s schools.

The Alabama Education Association says it is a balance.

“We are not in opposition to cutting the grocery tax, but we’re going to have to find other revenue streams in order to keep our Education Trust Fund strong,” said Allison King with the Alabama Education Association.

“We’ve got to identify how we can resolve the immediate needs of the families, which are the definite food insecurity issues, while also making sure that all our education institutions are meeting the needs of the students,” said state Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Elmore County.

Alabama is one of 13 states that taxes groceries, including Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.

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