Governor Laura Kelly has announced she will introduce a bill aimed at eliminating the state’s sales on food in Kansas.
If passed by the full Kansas Legislature, Kelly estimates the average family of four would save an average of $500 or more on their grocery bill annually. In a release Monday, the governor said this could be accomplished while still maintaining the state budget.
Kelly’s likely challenger, Attorney General Derek Schmidt also proposed a repeal or reduction of the grocery sales tax in a statement Friday. Schmidt says “eliminating or at least significantly reducing the sales tax on groceries is possible, necessary and overdue.”
Kansas is one of seven states that imposes a sales tax on food, at a 6.5 percent rate. Six other states also tax groceries, but at a lower rate.
Two of the state’s neighbors, Colorado and Nebraska have no sales tax on groceries.
