The city plans to put a new tax on your drinking water, but some question whether it’s fair to low-income residents

In many progressive circles, the most hated tax in the land is a sales tax on food.

Kansas is one of the few states that charges it, and opponents decry it as extremely regressive because it forces low-income people to pay tax on a product that is necessary for life.

But now questions are being raised whether Lawrence city commissioners — perhaps without much thought — are placing an equally regressive tax on the one product that may be even more essential than food. Commissioners are poised to place a new tax on water.

As part of the city’s proposed 2020 budget, a new 6% tax would affect every water bill in the city. The tax is in the recommended budget that is slated for final approval on Aug. 13.