New Georgia Legislation is Proposing that Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Pay Taxes for Cookie Sales and Popcorn Sales

As part of the 2010 Special Council on Tax Reform, House Bill 385 proposes to eliminate sales and use tax exemptions for non-profit organizations, specifically the Girl Scout cookie fundraiser and Boy Scout popcorn fundraiser.

What this may mean to you:

• Cookies and popcorn prices may rise to cover the diversion of  "raised " money to pay the "tax" on the product.
• Boys and girls may simply raise less money, therefore, participate in less community service projects, go to less camps, and attend less events and field trips. Or, the boys and girls (and parents) may have to work even harder to raise the same amount of money.
• Girls and boys (and troops) with serious financial constraints may not be able to purchase uniforms, patches/badges, and supplies. Some troops may need to dissolve because of this financial strain.

I won't pretend to know every intimate detail about where and how all of the money collected by the council and national is used, but I know that the money received by our troop goes back to the girls in our troop and into our community. No one is getting rich here and all of the volunteers are VOLUNTEERS. We are always thinking of ways to do more things for less money. We are NOT raising our money for pedicures or trips to Six Flags.

Now is the time to contact your elected officials and express your feelings (politely and logically) about this issue. Below are helpful links to give you more information on the issue and how to make contact with those concerned. 

Page 55 of the Bill

House Bill 385

Representative and Senator Contact List

Find Your Elected Officials by Zip Code
Sample Letter/Template for Contacting Officials
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Information Page about Bill 385