Rep. Piscopo Condemns New Tax on Children’s Sports & Recreation Services
With the start of Little League season right around the corner in towns across the 76th District, State Rep. John Piscopo (R-76) today announced his opposition to a new state sales tax on sports and recreational services for children.
“The working middle class is already struggling to make ends meet in Connecticut, and if that wasn’t bad enough, now there are proposals being introduced by Democrats in Hartford to target families and children,” said Rep. Piscopo. “This sports and recreation tax goes after activities that keep our kids happy and healthy – it’s just not right. This type of tax is another money grab that goes after parents just wanting to keep their children active with activities that are supposed to be fun, and now the state is penalizing them for years of overspending and mismanagement of funds. What else is next?”
In one of the many taxes Governor Lamont proposed to raise this legislative session, he proposed to apply the 6.35 percent 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.
Rep. Piscopo can be reached at john.piscopo@housegop.ct.gov or 800-842-1423. Constituents can follow his legislative activity throughout the 2019 session by logging on to his website, www.reppiscopo.com and following him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/RepPiscopo.