Rep. Mastrofrancesco Opposes New Tax on Children’s Sports & Recreation Services

HARTFORD- With both the towns of Wolcott and Southington Little Leagues about to kick off, State Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco (R-80) today announced her opposition to a new state sales tax on sports and recreational services for children.

“This sports and recreation tax is terrible policy. This tax will negatively impact middle class families in my district. The parents who sign up their kids for baseball little league, soccer, cheerleading, basketball or martial arts should not be penalized for the fiscal mismanagement of our state,” said Rep. Mastrofrancesco. “This tax is just another tax in a long line of taxes on Connecticut residents. When does it end?”

In one of the many taxes Governor Lamont proposed to raise this legislative session, he proposed to apply the 6.35% state sales tax to “sports and recreational services” and “services provided by amusement and recreational establishments.”

In SB-877, (section 24) An Act Concerning Revenue Items to Implement the Governor’s Budget applies to such services as:

• Sports and Recreation instruction (NAICS code 61162): camps and schools engaged in athletic instruction (cheerleading, riding, gymnastics, sports (e.g., baseball, basketball, football, golf) instruction, martial arts, swimming)

• Other Amusement and Recreation industries (NAICS code 7139): golf courses and country clubs, skiing facilities, marinas, bowling, billiards, fitness and recreational sports, mini golf, go carts, rowing clubs, paintball, shooting ranges, hunting clubs, soccer clubs. Recreational or youth sports teams (e.g. little league) fall under this category.

“This will also be an onerous tax for local clubs and recreation leagues to calculate and to collect. The state of Connecticut is putting another burden on these local groups who already struggle for financial and volunteer support,” said Rep. Mastrofrancesco. “Maybe Connecticut should instead look in a mirror and find some real savings in the state budget. Finding state spending reductions should be our priority right now.”