Potential Grocery Tax Could Bring Oklahoma Households Hundreds In Savings

The U.S. Census Bureau says Oklahoma is the 10th most expensive state to buy groceries, but momentum is growing to give Oklahomans some relief. 

The legislature is considering cutting the state sales tax on groceries, saving families hundreds of dollars a year.

State senate leader Greg Treat estimates cutting the state sales tax on groceries would save Oklahoma households about $700 a year. 

Steve McLauglin from Tulsa thinks that would help a lot of people.

"It's really difficult just to get some groceries,” he said. “If you can take off that sales tax, the sales tax in Oklahoma is pretty darn expensive, so it's nice to be able to say for the overall population that would be a real plus."

But Shawn Huckabee thinks Oklahoma could really use the money from grocery taxes.

"I just think that we could use those taxes to improve everything around our cities, the roads and helping people that can't help themselves,” Huckabee said. “There are so many things that are out there."

A federal study shows food prices rose almost four percent in just the past year.

Governor Kevin Stitt says he's in favor of cutting grocery taxes.

"I'll sign any tax cut that comes to my desk because as we have growth it should be automatic to return excess to the taxpayers," he said.

Cutting the state sales tax on groceries would cost Oklahoma about $400 million.

 Huckabee says that money could be used to improve the state in many areas.

"Reducing it, I'm all for that, but doing away from it completely, I just think we're defeating the purpose of that tax,” said Huckabee “Just don't take advantage of it."

The bill is currently being considered in a state senate committee.

It would not affect sales taxes on groceries collected by towns or counties.