This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It is with continued awe that I read and listen to the views of Evelyn Everton and her ilk regarding the lack of need for Internet sales tax funds here in Utah because we "have enough money."
They must be living in the Twilight Zone. Having spent years attending appropriations hearings on Utah's Capitol Hill, watching critical social service programs, among others, get cut or eliminated due to lack of available tax monies, I can vouch for the fact that we do not have enough money.
Not only do those who shop online evade paying sales tax, they take money away from our local economy. I choose to shop local and pay sales tax, thus supporting small businesses and jobs for my neighbors while contributing to our local tax base.
Perhaps those who do not support Internet sales tax should take a few hours to sit in on an appropriations hearing this legislative session and get a dose of reality. Perhaps then they will understand why taxes collected from Internet purchases are considered so vital.
Linda Hilton
Holladay