Although students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are trying to pass a bill through the state Senate that would make textbooks tax-free, Boston University would be unaffected by a similar measure in Massachusetts.
The Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee said it is determined to pass the measure.
“A student spends about $320 on books per semester,” said Anthony Sussman, co-chairman of the committee. “Over one semester, the student body would save a total of $1.2 million from tax-exempted textbooks. That’s about an average saving of $200 per student over four years.”
The current tax rate on textbooks in Wisconsin is 5.5 percent, and a state budget proposal could raise out-of-state tuition by 23 percent and in-state tuition by 8 percent next year, according to Sussman.
Although students in Madison are staging rallies to promote awareness of the bill, the passage of the bill faces an uphill struggle, Sussman said. The implications of eliminating taxes on textbooks would mean a loss of revenue for the state and possible cutbacks on other programs that need funding, he added.
“I realize the state of Wisconsin is in a tight economic situation,” Sussman said. “The bill probably has a slim-to-none chance of being passed in the Legislature. It had already convened, and our bill wasn’t on their priority. We’re holding a rally on Wednesday to encourage the state budget to be voted down by the state Senate.”
Although the issue of taxes can provide fodder for any political debate, BU students do not have to worry about such a bill being submitted in Massachusetts, as the state does not levy a sales tax on textbooks, said Ed Chase, the textbook manager at the Kenmore Square Barnes ‘ Noble.
“Sales taxes vary from state to state,” Chase said. “New York and California have taxes on their textbooks, but Massachusetts doesn’t.”
States that have passed similar bills include New York, Arizona, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, according to an article in the Badger Herald, the University of Wisconsin’s student paper.
Chase did not wish to comment on the actual percentage of profits accrued by Barnes ‘ Noble on textbooks.
As with the University of Wisconsin, though, Boston University students are faced with the problem of expensive textbooks in addition to a raising tuition.
“College education is getting expensive,” said School of Management sophomore Nick DeVecchis. “I think it [the tax-free textbooks bill] would be an excellent idea. It would be a good idea to give them a little tax break to encourage higher education.”
Other BU students held the same sentiment.
“That would so totally rock,” said College of Communication sophomore Afshan Khoja. “I don’t think students should be paying for taxes anyway during college. I support it with all my heart.”
“I would support the bill because of how much we have to pay BU-wise,” said COM sophomore Chris Vassil.
However, some students met the possibility of such a bill with skepticism.
“I don’t think taxes are always so negative,” said College of Arts and Science sophomore Joanna Fehlauer. “It stinks, but at the same time the money generated through public goods often goes to pay for many public goods. So if we stopped paying taxes, how much revenue would be lost, especially in Massachusetts?”
“I think they can make them cheaper some other way,” Fehlauer continued. “They could use softer covering or maybe recycled material. I think they should look into other things first. I just think taxes are so complicated and controversial.”
Sussman agreed that taxes in a case such as this is a state-to-state issue, and he is unsure about the impact collective university action would have on this issue across the country.
“It would at least turn heads,” he said.
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