In 1974, the voters of Michigan approved an amendment to the state constitution that exempts food products from any sales or use tax. Bottled water is classified by the US Food and Drug Administration and the state of Michigan as a packaged food product. Therefore, Governor Granholm’s proposed tax would be unconstitutional.
“Although there are many taxable items and services involved in the governor’s budget proposal, taxing food products such as bottled water isn’t permitted under current law,” said Joe Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA).
In addition, “Consumers will ultimately bear the burden of any tax increases via higher prices,” said Doss. “Increased beverage prices unfortunately place a much higher spending burden on working families, the poor and the elderly – those who can least afford that burden.”
The new tax as proposed could discourage some Michiganders from purchasing bottled water, which is a safe, healthy, convenient, regulated food product that helps them stay hydrated and refreshed, and which doesn’t contain sugar, caffeine and other additives that they may be trying to moderate or avoid.
Higher bottled water prices may also cause some Michigan consumers to purchase their bottled water from neighbouring states. All of these lost sales would not only harm Michigan-based bottled water manufacturers and retailers, but would also harm the state itself. Lost sales often equate to lost jobs and failed companies – nothing about that would be good for Michigan’s economic portfolio.
IBWA is opposed to all taxes that unfairly target the bottled water industry’s products. Such a tax would negatively impact Michigan’s economy, consumers and bottled water companies. IBWA represents bottled water producers, distributors and suppliers throughout the US, including several companies located in Michigan. 60% of its members have annual sales under $1m, and 90% of members have less than $10m in annual sales. These are small, locally owned companies with deep roots within their communities.
In fact, companies in Michigan that manufacture, distribute and sell bottled water products employ as many as 5,000 people in the state and generate an additional 10,500 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. These include jobs in companies supplying goods and services to bottled water manufacturers, distributors and retailers, as well as those that depend on sales to workers in the bottled water industry. These are good jobs, paying an average of $41,490 in wages and benefits.
Not only does the manufacture and sale of bottled water create good jobs in Michigan, but the industry also contributes to the state’s economy as a whole. In 2008, the bottled water industry was responsible for nearly $2.4bn in total economic activity in Michigan. Furthermore, the bottled water industry already generates sizeable tax revenues in the state, with the industry and its employees paying over $16.3m in property, income and sales taxes.
“The bottled water industry has a long history in Michigan of working with the administration, the legislature and others on sound and equitable laws and public policy, and we’ve often gone the extra mile in accepting additional, industry-specific regulations as a show of good faith and desire to remain economically viable in Michigan,” said Joe Doss. “IBWA’s active involvement in helping to support and pass the Great Lakes Compact is proof of that.”
Bottled water businesses are already strained in the current economic crisis – a tax on their products will only add further strain. Furthermore, the bottled water industry has a long history in Michigan of coming to the aid of those in distress during incidents when bad weather, floods, fires and other events have prevented municipal water systems from providing clean, safe drinking water.
For bottled water to be available in emergency situations, there must also be a viable commercial marketplace that supports its production. Reducing the commercial viability of bottled water could seriously threaten its availability during emergency situations in Michigan.
Source: International Bottled Water Association
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