SACRAMENTO, CA -- City councilman Kevin McCarty said he is exploring a tax on soda sold in Sacramento. The proposal is part of the councilman's broader initiative to combat child obesity in the city, which includes removing soda from vending machines at city facilities and developing more community gardens at city schools.
The councilman did not say how much of a tax he'd propose on soda or how much revenue he anticipates the taxes would generate.
He pointed to and increasing incidence of diabetes among adults and the cost of obesity as reasons to explore the levy. He said he would earmark the funds to city-run recreational programs such as summer and after-school youth leagues, and to help fund city employees working in recreational programs at schools.
