Bill aims to drop 5 percent sales tax from textbook sales
Senate to review legislation Thursday
Chris Klarer
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: Campus
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Paisley Harper said she spent nearly $300 on textbooks this semester.
Though some students may have paid more, and some less, a bill in the Illinois state legislature could make textbook purchases a little lighter on students' wallets.
"I paid $500 last semester, and $200 of it was just for one class," said Harper, a sophomore from Chicago studying business.
Illinois Senate Bill 327 - which is scheduled to go before the Senate Revenue Committee Thursday - would make textbook purchases exempt from Illinois' 5 percent sales tax. In Harper's case, the nearly $40 she paid in sales tax the past two semesters could be saved in the future.
"I'm very excited about this," said TyJuan Cratic, a senior from Chicago studying political science and law. "I think it could potentially mean a lot. It's something that a lot of students have been working towards."
Cratic started the Facebook group "The Progressive Campaign" - a student group advocating for the bill.
The group has attracted 276 members from across the state and encourages concerned students to contact their state legislators to support the bill. On the group's Facebook page, students can find some state senators' phone numbers and talking points to be used when leaving a message.
SIUC's Undergraduate Student Government has also passed a resolution authored by Cratic that encourages state legislators to support the bill.
"I'm using that resolution as a template to get in touch with a lot of colleges around the state," Cratic said.
He said he hopes other student senates will pass similar resolutions.
If the bill passes, the impact on the local economy would be minimal. The bill would only remove the 5 percent sales tax that goes to the state, said Kevin Baity, assistant city manager for economic development.
City and county sales taxes, which total 1.25 percent, would remain, he said.
Local bookstores should only be affected by a slight clerical change. The reduction in prices would only be coming from a sales tax, which does not go to the store, said Randy Johnson, general manager of 710 Bookstore.
Though some students may have paid more, and some less, a bill in the Illinois state legislature could make textbook purchases a little lighter on students' wallets.
"I paid $500 last semester, and $200 of it was just for one class," said Harper, a sophomore from Chicago studying business.
Illinois Senate Bill 327 - which is scheduled to go before the Senate Revenue Committee Thursday - would make textbook purchases exempt from Illinois' 5 percent sales tax. In Harper's case, the nearly $40 she paid in sales tax the past two semesters could be saved in the future.
"I'm very excited about this," said TyJuan Cratic, a senior from Chicago studying political science and law. "I think it could potentially mean a lot. It's something that a lot of students have been working towards."
Cratic started the Facebook group "The Progressive Campaign" - a student group advocating for the bill.
The group has attracted 276 members from across the state and encourages concerned students to contact their state legislators to support the bill. On the group's Facebook page, students can find some state senators' phone numbers and talking points to be used when leaving a message.
SIUC's Undergraduate Student Government has also passed a resolution authored by Cratic that encourages state legislators to support the bill.
"I'm using that resolution as a template to get in touch with a lot of colleges around the state," Cratic said.
He said he hopes other student senates will pass similar resolutions.
If the bill passes, the impact on the local economy would be minimal. The bill would only remove the 5 percent sales tax that goes to the state, said Kevin Baity, assistant city manager for economic development.
City and county sales taxes, which total 1.25 percent, would remain, he said.
Local bookstores should only be affected by a slight clerical change. The reduction in prices would only be coming from a sales tax, which does not go to the store, said Randy Johnson, general manager of 710 Bookstore.
