Second Hand Tax Plan
Well friends, this is a difficult post for me to write. After working on the Secondhand Tax Plan since before I was elected, our council voted against moving forward with it tonight. After previously supporting it (6 to 1), it was voted down (2 to 5). As you may know, this was a targeted tax cut for secondhand goods, giving a tax break to those who need it most, and encouraging items to be reused rather than ending up in the landfill.
Politics can be a tough game, and I was pretty vested in this idea, so yeah, it hurts a bit.
I’m going to explore moving this forward at the state level, and perhaps the county as well. Eventually I’ll try to find some support for it in Grand Junction again. We’ll just have to see what the future holds.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Grand Junction City Council member Cody Kennedy proposed the idea to end sales tax on any second-hand item that is under $5,000 or is not an automobile. Kennedy took his idea to Mesa County to end the county tax as well. Kennedy said the county was excited about this idea.
Grand Junction City Council Member Cody Kennedy is trying to take an idea to eliminate sales tax for secondhand stores valley wide.
Kennedy first floated the idea to Grand Junction City Council at a workshop on Jan. 8. He then made a presentation to Fruita City Council on Feb. 20. Kennedy said he has also spoken with the Mesa County Commissioners.
The tax break would apply to secondhand goods sold by both nonprofit and for-profit stores, Kennedy said.
City Council member Cody Kennedy has proposed eliminating sales taxes for secondhand stores in the city, a move he said would help people at lower income levels and divert material away from landfills.
Kennedy said at a City Council workshop Monday he hoped to garner enough support for the idea to continue to work on it and potentially implement it in the city's 2025 budget.
City staffers are going to work with Kennedy on refining the proposal further. City staff estimated the city collects about $675,000 per year in sales tax revenue from secondhand stores.
Many of you may recall the Secondhand Tax Plan that the council recently voted down. This was a plan I had been working on since before I was elected, designed to provide a targeted tax cut as an incentive to buy secondhand goods. The goal was to eliminate taxes (starting with the city and potentially expanding to the county and state) to encourage reuse and raise awareness about its importance.
The article below, featured in today’s Daily Sentinel, highlights a global issue connected to this idea. “Fast fashion” isn’t just filling up local landfills, it’s impacting communities and environments worldwide.
By choosing to buy secondhand goods you’re not just saving money, you’re making a statement. And it’s on trend! When someone compliments your find, you can proudly say, “Thanks! It’s thrifted.”