At the request of Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed, Rhode Island will no longer assess a sales tax on art work created in Rhode Island by Rhode Island artists.

Now, there are those who would say that the state cannot afford art.  They would point to downward trending revenue projections and question how the tax revenue on a non-essential item like art, of all things, could be forfeited especially in light of items like reduced funding for the developmentally disabled; long neglected essentials like roads and bridges; extremely generous public pensions that, frankly, are only funded in the eyes of those who wish to erroneously characterize as substantial the recent pension reform; unfunded public OPEB’s; and an overall budget that can barely be balanced even after voraciously hoovering up any and all taxes and fees to the point, paradoxically, of creating a markedly repellent climate for businesses and taxpayers.

There are others who would say that the state has literally not earned the right to look at works of beauty.  They would point out that voters have spent decades electing less than wise leaders whose budgets and misguided agendas were far bigger than the revenue that the state was capable of generating.   Now, these observers would say, the bill has very much come due for all of these questionable budget decisions and art is a luxury expense that, because it has  not been budgeted for, must obviously be foregone.

But I’d like to look at the philosophy underlying the new policy.  Hasn’t the tax been lifted so as to promote the arts?  To encourage its growth, its flourishing?

If so, shouldn’t that be the hands-off approach across the board?  If the state sales tax goes to Zero Point Zero, won’t the entire state grow, flourish?  And talk about promotion!  “No sales tax in Rhode Island?  On anything???  Let’s go!”

I say Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed is absolutely correct and only erred in scope.  The state needs to take her philosophy on the non-taxation of art and run with it.

[Monique is Editor of the RI Taxpayer Times newsletter.  Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the organization.]