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Expanded sales taxes/service taxes:
Not a good choice

  • Wyoming residents already shop out of state for "big ticket" items and food to avoid sales taxes; more taxes would increase evasion
  • Proposed service taxes would instantly drive business out of state
  • Use tax enforcement and/or service taxes require Draconian enforcement, more government.... Use tax would be seen as a new tax because it has not been collected from individuals before
  • Sales taxes are regressive -- In Gov. Geringer's 2000 "State of the State" address, he proposed elimination of sales tax on food
  • Sales tax revenues don't correlate well with needs of local government
    • Factories, wholesale businesses generate no direct sales tax income but require roads, snow removal, water, etc.
    • Businesses that export to out-of-state consumers likewise generate no direct sales taxes but consume resources
    • A city can have booming industry but modest sales tax revenue