Sacramento to Propose Tax on Texting
by Darla Mack
Cellular-News reports that residents in Sacramento might have to pay taxes on their text messaging.
Voters living in the Californian city of Sacramento will be given the opportunity to vote on a measure which will extend an existing utility tax to include SMS messages. Currently the tax is applied to voice calls from mobile phones, along with electricity, gas and television services but does not include text messages.
Lobby group, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is opposing this new tax and has previously sued stating that tax on cellphone bills is illegal.
“The city is packaging an increase as a tax reduction,” said Timothy Bittle, from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association. “Communication is a basic human right. It’s a constitutional right. It’s free speech. Why do we have to be taxed?”
While I agree with Mr. Bittle’s statement I’m curious to understand just how text messaging is considered a utility? It isn’t something that is stand-alone such as power or water, but a feature that is incorporated in carrier service plans… which are already being taxed.
Voters will be able to vote on the tax change this coming November. Under California’s Proposition 218, voters have the right to vote on all local taxes, and requires taxpayer approval of assessments and property-related fees.
