Spring Break
State may repeal textbook tax exemption
Meghan Kruger
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
Connecticut legislators are considering repealing the tax exemption placed on textbooks, according to a press release from the National Association of College Stores (NACS). Currently, textbooks are exempt from sales tax, saving students money.
"This would result in an immediate 6 percent increase in the price for students, on top of the increase of cost from publishers," said Bill Simpson, president and COO of the UConn Co-Op.
Textbooks and course materials are not traditionally covered through student financial aid packages, so often they are out of pocket expenses.
"We are strongly opposed to this repeal," Simpson said. "We've worked for a number of years to moderate the price of textbooks, and we've made some progress. This is not the direction we need to be headed in."
The repeal is in an effort to increase revenue for the state. "[The state] has some difficult decisions to make, but targeting college students is not the solution," said Rich Hershman, director of government relations for the NACS. "For college students, any little bit helps and any little bit hurts."
As textbook prices increase, the state would collect more money from students.
"I would support it if textbook prices are going to be lowered," said Casey Peters, a 6th-semester psychology major. "I'm all for generating revenue for the state, but not if they are going to tack on something extra just to get their share."
None of Connecticut's neighboring states tax college textbooks, according to Hershman, so this would "punish students for attending college in Connecticut and shopping within the state."
Hershman encourages students to speak out against this repeal by writing letters to Connecticut legislators. Simpson has already contact ed several state representatives about the issue, including Sen. Donald Williams and Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
"We need to allow as many people as we can access to high education and this will not help," Simpson said.
"This would result in an immediate 6 percent increase in the price for students, on top of the increase of cost from publishers," said Bill Simpson, president and COO of the UConn Co-Op.
Textbooks and course materials are not traditionally covered through student financial aid packages, so often they are out of pocket expenses.
"We are strongly opposed to this repeal," Simpson said. "We've worked for a number of years to moderate the price of textbooks, and we've made some progress. This is not the direction we need to be headed in."
The repeal is in an effort to increase revenue for the state. "[The state] has some difficult decisions to make, but targeting college students is not the solution," said Rich Hershman, director of government relations for the NACS. "For college students, any little bit helps and any little bit hurts."
As textbook prices increase, the state would collect more money from students.
"I would support it if textbook prices are going to be lowered," said Casey Peters, a 6th-semester psychology major. "I'm all for generating revenue for the state, but not if they are going to tack on something extra just to get their share."
None of Connecticut's neighboring states tax college textbooks, according to Hershman, so this would "punish students for attending college in Connecticut and shopping within the state."
Hershman encourages students to speak out against this repeal by writing letters to Connecticut legislators. Simpson has already contact ed several state representatives about the issue, including Sen. Donald Williams and Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
"We need to allow as many people as we can access to high education and this will not help," Simpson said.
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