Sales tax would help state serve those most in need

On July 27 I traveled to Helena to testify at the public hearing addressing the proposed funding cuts to agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. Agencies such as Reach, which provides these services in Bozeman, had already suffered terrible cuts due to the budget passed in the last legislative session and they are about to lose even more money since state revenues failed to reach a critical level.

My comments at the hearing about my son’s needs paled in comparison to those having more severe disabilities. Despite the claim made by Speaker Austin Knudsen that the GOP made cuts to ensure that the needs of Montana families would still be met (Bozeman Daily ChronicleAug. 9, 2017), the needs of our most vulnerable citizens are not being met. Furthermore, those caring for the developmentally disabled are the “working poor,” often making less per hour than they would at a fast-food chain. Indeed, all agencies such as Reach struggle to find and keep the employees they need to provide services.

One speaker, a young man who works with developmentally disabled adults, said something like this: “I can’t believe that Montana would choose to hurt people with disabilities rather than to institute a sales tax or a tax on soda pop to increase revenue.” This struck me because after living in Montana for 30 years, I still don’t understand our aversion to a sales tax. I have lived in five other states that had a sales tax. All exempted items such as food and medicine. The tax never felt onerous. Such a tax in Montana, with its large tourism industry, could raise considerable funds and help us meet the needs of those in our community who need help. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider a sales tax.