Bill may exempt textbooks from taxes
Proposal could save students nearly $75 a year
Melissa Mills
Contributing Writer
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
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An SGA supported bill proposing the exemption of sales tax might lower the cost of textbooks for college students in Alabama.
This year Alabama's education fund is the largest in the state's history and can afford to give college students this tax exception, said Jesse Woods, an SGA senator and junior majoring in chemical and biological engineering. The bill will save students an average of nearly $75 per school year.
"A tax on textbooks is a direct tax on education," Woods said.
Last April the SGA began work on a bill that would offer students a tax break on textbooks. It would stop state, county and municipal sales and use taxes from being charged in both private and public universities.
The proposal would not only exempt regular textbooks, but also other readings assigned by instructors.
Woods said SGA leaders realized additional support would be needed and introduced the bill at the Higher Education Partnership, a community of universities in the state.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville was the only school to not vote in favor of the bill.
Montevallo and the University of Alabama at Birmingham have been other major players in pushing the bill.
Other states have passed similar bills exempting textbooks from state taxes.
"We looked at other bills that were passed and created a hybrid bill," Woods said.
Alabama State Sen. Roger Bedford proposed the bill last session. The bill was brought up halfway through the session and lacked the support needed to pass. SGA leaders decided to try again in the following session, which starts in February.
One group opposed to the bill is the Alabama Education Association. The AEA said they are not in support of any bill that lowers taxes because it takes money away from the education system.
"AEA works with different groups to reform taxes so that if exemptions are allowed they are replaced with another tax source," said David Stout, an AEA representative.
This year Alabama's education fund is the largest in the state's history and can afford to give college students this tax exception, said Jesse Woods, an SGA senator and junior majoring in chemical and biological engineering. The bill will save students an average of nearly $75 per school year.
"A tax on textbooks is a direct tax on education," Woods said.
Last April the SGA began work on a bill that would offer students a tax break on textbooks. It would stop state, county and municipal sales and use taxes from being charged in both private and public universities.
The proposal would not only exempt regular textbooks, but also other readings assigned by instructors.
Woods said SGA leaders realized additional support would be needed and introduced the bill at the Higher Education Partnership, a community of universities in the state.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville was the only school to not vote in favor of the bill.
Montevallo and the University of Alabama at Birmingham have been other major players in pushing the bill.
Other states have passed similar bills exempting textbooks from state taxes.
"We looked at other bills that were passed and created a hybrid bill," Woods said.
Alabama State Sen. Roger Bedford proposed the bill last session. The bill was brought up halfway through the session and lacked the support needed to pass. SGA leaders decided to try again in the following session, which starts in February.
One group opposed to the bill is the Alabama Education Association. The AEA said they are not in support of any bill that lowers taxes because it takes money away from the education system.
"AEA works with different groups to reform taxes so that if exemptions are allowed they are replaced with another tax source," said David Stout, an AEA representative.
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