Bill in Legislature Could Make it a Reality.
Tax Free Books
For many students, the most dreaded aspect of the start of a new academic semester is the financial burden of textbooks.
In a world where paying anywhere from $200-$600 on textbooks each semester is considered normal, many students find themselves overwhelmed.
In Montgomery last Wednesday, the Senate Education Finance Committee discussed a bill which would waive taxes on college textbooks.
This waiver would apply to state and local sales taxes and would be valid for 2-year and 4-year college students.
While members of the committee debated the issue, there was no vote.
The bill remains in committee and does not have a set date to be on the floor.
According to the Legislative Fiscal office, the waiver would save students approximately $15.2 million a year.
This concept is not new. Several states, including Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia, have tax exemption policies for textbooks.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville.
One question posed by committee members is why textbooks are updated so often and why new versions must be purchased regularly.
The pending legislation is a subsidiary of the Higher Education Authorization Act, which would also require manufacturers to un-bundle certain textbook packages, preventing students from having to buy new books.
Kristi Broadfoot, a senior in health administration and former SGA director of legislative affairs, assisted University of Alabama SGA President R.B. Walker and Chairman of the External Affairs Senate Committee Jesse Woods, who drafted the bill.
Broadfoot said the waiver is something seemingly small that could drastically reduce textbook costs for students each year.
“The overwhelming price of textbooks is a huge burden on college students, especially those who may be paying their own way through,” Broadfoot said.
Many view taxation on textbooks to be an unjust consequence for seeking an education.
“This bill would remove the unfair tax of college textbooks which is essentially a direct tax on education,” Broadfoot said.
While the bill has gained support throughout the state, the University of Alabama in Huntsville does not endorse it.
Samuel Parks, UAH senior and student body president, told The Huntsville Times waiving sales tax on textbooks would inevitably be damaging in the end.
“It would further remove revenue from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund and the costs would ultimately be passed down to the students,” he said.
Many students at UAH agree with Parks and believe the elimination of sales tax would encourage manufacturers to increase retail prices.
While the conceivers of the bill have discussed these risks with UAH, they stand by the bill.
The bill could also cost the Education Trust Fund up to $5 million, as well as hurt many Alabama cities and counties through the loss of revenue.
Despite possible risks associated with the bill, a multitude of student body presidents and local and state representatives view the bill as a necessary step in the direction of lowering education costs.
SGA President Lauren Hayes contests that the bill holds promise of benefiting not only Auburn students, but students throughout the state.
“As the cost of a quality education, especially textbooks, soars, this bill could provide a bit of relief for students and our families,” Hayes said.
