Democratic candidate for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a plan to bring down grocery prices Wednesday.
In a grocery store in Lawrenceville, Bottoms proposed a policy that would allow local governments to suspend or eliminate the sales tax on groceries, baby formula, feminine hygiene products, and diapers.
The state already does not tax groceries, but local sales taxes vary.
“It will also give the state an opportunity to provide a backstop, a temporary backstop at least for one budget cycle as the local municipalities work to balance their budgets,” she said.
The proposal would have to pass through the state legislature. Bottoms says she will allocate $250 million in state funds for relief for local governments if they implement the opt-in plan.
Affordability has been a cornerstone of both governor’s campaigns this year. Republican Rick Jackson has proposed eliminating state sales tax on residential electricity to bring down bills.
This story comes to The Georgia Sun through a reporting partnership with GPB a non-profit newsroom focused on reporting in Georgia.
