Saturday, March 5, 2011

Proposed Legislation would tax Boy Scout Popcorn and Girl Scout Cookies in Georgia!!!

Scouting Friends:
 
Proposed Georgia legislation would require a sales tax on Popcorn fundraisers for Cub - Boy Scouts and on Cookies for Girl Scouts.  This significant financial impact would take money directly from each boy's efforts to go to camp and pay for their Scouting activities.
 
This issue is being considered RIGHT NOW, so please contact your State House Representative and State Senator TODAY and express your concern in a courteous, Scout-like manner about our Scouts being taxed. Please reference House Bill 385.
 
House Bill 385 is a part of the 2010 Special Council on Tax Reform eliminating various nonprofit sales and use tax exemptions, targeting popcorn and cookie fundraisers by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
 
The consequences of this legislation:
 
Requiring our young Scouts to collect sales tax is not fair and not feasible.
A portion of the funds earned by our Scouts for their camping experience would need to be diverted to pay a sales tax.
Hundreds of children especially in hard to serve areas will not be able to participate in Scouting due to reduction of services resulting from the sales taxes.
Camps are likely to be stressed due to reduced funding.
Please voice your opinion on this issue.  Contact your State Representative and State Senators TODAY in a courteous, Scout-like manner regarding House Bill 385.  See the left column for a link to find your elected officials.  Thank you for your support of Scouting.   
 
Yours in Scouting,
 
Tracy A. Techau
Scout Executive/CEO
Atlanta Area Council, BSA