Lakewood Grocery Tax Repeal FAQ

What is the Grocery Tax?

The Grocery Tax is a 2% Lakewood sales tax on food for domestic home consumption.

example: eggs, milk, bread

What does repealing the grocery tax do?

The current 2% sales tax on groceries would be reduced to 1% for year 2009, then eliminated completely in 2010.

My receipt says 2.5% sales tax on groceries, what is the .5% for?

Jefferson County collects a half-percent tax on all tangible goods in Jefferson County. This tax is collected for open space and distributed to cities such as Lakewood to use for that purpose. This tax will not be eliminated by this petition.

Do we vote on this?

We are circulating petitions now through June 25. We need Lakewood registered voter signatures. Once we get enough signatures, this measure will go to the Lakewood City Council. The Lakewood City Council has the opportunity to remove the sales tax on groceries without requiring a vote of the Lakewood citizens. This would save money on holding an election. If City Council chooses not to do this, the matter will go to a vote of the people November 2008.

Government always says they aren't collecting enough tax as it is...how will Lakewood make up for the revenue?

In the years up through 2003, before the economic slump, Lakewood had millions in excess revenues of which we saw no TABOR tax refund.
In 2006, Lakewood had a sales tax increase which raises another 17 million annually and was more than was needed. As that wasn't enough, City Council then used the 2006 election to further reduce our TABOR tax refunds.

The State of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Lone Tree, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Commerce City, Englewood, plus others, do not charge sales tax on groceries. Many other cities offer grocery tax rebate programs.

Repealing the grocery tax can provide a family with another week of groceries.

Not everyone gets an annual pay raise, it's time to have compromise from Lakewood. If efficiencies can't be found in the $150 million dollar budget, then Council can review the special considerations and exemptions they've given to the Wal-Mart/ Creekside, Colorado Mills and Belmar developers.

Who do I contact for more information or to help collect signatures?

Natalie Menten (303) 980-8834 (303) 489-2895 or Charley Able (303) 233-7275

Make sure to look for petition circulators and get signed up!