The Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University has conducted a survey of 1000 Utahns on taxes, services and the budget. The results have just been published. I will let the survey speak for itself but I found the following particularly interesting:
1. The survey shows that Utahns while willing to endure cuts in services in certain areas are “very opposed (unwilling)" to have services cut in public education. (See page 2 of 12)
2. In view of my position on the Board of Trustees for UTA, I was very interested in the portion of the survey that asked “How important is it for Utah to continue to fund for the development of transit (light rail and commuter rail)? Forty-seven percent said that continuing to fund these transit projects is very important; 31% said it was somewhat important; just 12% said it was not very important: and only 7% said it was not at all important. (See page 7 of 12)
3. I was disappointed with the results of the question that asked the public’s willingness to increase the state gas tax. Fifteen percent said they would definitely favor an increase in the gasoline tax, 29% said they probably would favor, 17% said they, probably would not favor, and 35% said they definitely would not favor an increase in the gas tax. (See page 6 of 12) I think some education and pr needs to go on here. We continue to send our nation’s wealth to petty dictators that return it to us with bullets and terrorism. In order to continue the incentive to develop alternative energy and alternative transportation we must make it economically advantageous to do so. Revenues from the tax are desperately needed.
The full results of this important survey can be seen at: www.cppa.utah.edu.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Response
This is part of the response that I sent to Representative Mascaro:
With respect to government waste I think Utah has always been fairly efficient compared to other States. We don’t have much waste to cut. We cannot experience the kind of cuts that are mentioned in your e-mail. I think Utahns get so caught up in the King Benjamin theory of government that we lose the idea of investment. We will be money ahead in the long run if we invest in our children. Cuts in education will increase crime, poverty and suffering in the long run. It will make it so our children can’t compete in a world market. Cuts will turn teachers into baby sitters instead of teachers because classes will be so large. I do not support shortening the school year, teacher lay offs, or any cuts at all in education. I would support immigration reform which would greatly reduce cost and stress in our education system, but that is another story.
We will also be money ahead if we invest in economic development. We must continue to attract employers to our State, and help the businesses we have succeed. We must do all that in an environmentally responsible way.
So how do we pay for it? This is a rainy day, use the rainy day fund. That is what it is for. Also, I for one support certain tax increases. The gas tax should be raised considerably. The sales tax on food should not be removed at this time. Income taxes should be increased, not by raising the rate, but reducing the dependent credit and other similar measures. Here are the areas of importance, the top of the list being the most important. Hence, if cuts should be made they should be made from this nearer the bottom of the list.
1. Education (Public and Higher)
2. Highways and Transportation
3. Public Safety (highway patrol, corrections)
4. Health and Human Services
5. Judiciary
6. Natural Resources
With respect to government waste I think Utah has always been fairly efficient compared to other States. We don’t have much waste to cut. We cannot experience the kind of cuts that are mentioned in your e-mail. I think Utahns get so caught up in the King Benjamin theory of government that we lose the idea of investment. We will be money ahead in the long run if we invest in our children. Cuts in education will increase crime, poverty and suffering in the long run. It will make it so our children can’t compete in a world market. Cuts will turn teachers into baby sitters instead of teachers because classes will be so large. I do not support shortening the school year, teacher lay offs, or any cuts at all in education. I would support immigration reform which would greatly reduce cost and stress in our education system, but that is another story.
We will also be money ahead if we invest in economic development. We must continue to attract employers to our State, and help the businesses we have succeed. We must do all that in an environmentally responsible way.
So how do we pay for it? This is a rainy day, use the rainy day fund. That is what it is for. Also, I for one support certain tax increases. The gas tax should be raised considerably. The sales tax on food should not be removed at this time. Income taxes should be increased, not by raising the rate, but reducing the dependent credit and other similar measures. Here are the areas of importance, the top of the list being the most important. Hence, if cuts should be made they should be made from this nearer the bottom of the list.
1. Education (Public and Higher)
2. Highways and Transportation
3. Public Safety (highway patrol, corrections)
4. Health and Human Services
5. Judiciary
6. Natural Resources
Occassionally Steve Mascaro, (R-West Jordan) sends consituents legislative updates. Here is an e-mail I received Friday with some very frightening possibilities on budget cuts:
I have promised many on this group to try and keep you informed of how things are going at the Legislature. I hope you find this information helpful to understand the issue better.
The biggest issue of course is the Budget. The Budget situation is severe enough that it may either require or result in some important policy changes. I serve of the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Sub Appropriation Committee this year. We have charge of all the Elected Executive Offices Budgets – Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, and the Courts, Departments of Corrections, Department of Safety, Juvenile Justice Centers, etc. The cuts that we have made to the 2009 and 2010 Budgets during the Special Session in the Fall and so far this year – if left in place- will be between 15 and 20 %. For some Departments it will exceed 20%. This is the “directive” given to us from Leadership on the Executive Appropriations Committee, -the final authority.
I know everyone keeps repeating, "CUT THE BUDGET,…" “There is too much waste in Government,…” which to a point I agree with. But I don't believe everyone has any idea just how much we have already cut. So I wanted to give you a very brief sketch of what these last rounds of cuts will mean if we leave them in place.
In my Sub-Appropriation Committee with the recommended 15% additional cutsour next cuts will involve such things as turning out over 700 felons from the State Prisons in the next 6 months, closing courthouses, cutting over 50 StateTroopers of the Freeways- this will give us fewer Trooper than we had in1998-, eliminating our contracts with County Jails, which will impacthousing for local jail inmates in addition to the 700 State Prisoners,postpone to undetermined dates civil court cases and only deal with criminalcases which will be reduced because of reductions in court personnel, etc.,etc. etc. I haven't even discussed some of the results of other Sub-Appropriation Committee cut. They will result in laying of teachers, shorting school time, laying off professors, closing whole sections of someof our colleges, eliminating many human services to people withdisabilities, mentally ill, ending life saving Medicaid Healthcare servicesto some, ...the list goes on.
Final decisions have not been made. We will balance the Budget . I know and understand that so many people that are not close to this Budgeting process can easily say, "there's fat in government, so just keepcutting."But at some point you have to ask is the cost to society worth thecuts. We are dealing with some difficult decisions.
I believe these difficult times will pass, and if we can make some reasonable and correct decisionsto get us through the next 12 to 18 months, we will be okay. It is thosedecisions that we must find agreement on. If these cuts begin to be to Draconian, then there will be discussions about revenue sources to deal with some of the cuts, even if only temporarily. Such revenue sources discussion will include Rainy Day funds, bonding and new fees or taxes. These next two weeks will be very challenging.
As always, I value your input.Rep Steven Mascaro
I have promised many on this group to try and keep you informed of how things are going at the Legislature. I hope you find this information helpful to understand the issue better.
The biggest issue of course is the Budget. The Budget situation is severe enough that it may either require or result in some important policy changes. I serve of the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Sub Appropriation Committee this year. We have charge of all the Elected Executive Offices Budgets – Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, and the Courts, Departments of Corrections, Department of Safety, Juvenile Justice Centers, etc. The cuts that we have made to the 2009 and 2010 Budgets during the Special Session in the Fall and so far this year – if left in place- will be between 15 and 20 %. For some Departments it will exceed 20%. This is the “directive” given to us from Leadership on the Executive Appropriations Committee, -the final authority.
I know everyone keeps repeating, "CUT THE BUDGET,…" “There is too much waste in Government,…” which to a point I agree with. But I don't believe everyone has any idea just how much we have already cut. So I wanted to give you a very brief sketch of what these last rounds of cuts will mean if we leave them in place.
In my Sub-Appropriation Committee with the recommended 15% additional cutsour next cuts will involve such things as turning out over 700 felons from the State Prisons in the next 6 months, closing courthouses, cutting over 50 StateTroopers of the Freeways- this will give us fewer Trooper than we had in1998-, eliminating our contracts with County Jails, which will impacthousing for local jail inmates in addition to the 700 State Prisoners,postpone to undetermined dates civil court cases and only deal with criminalcases which will be reduced because of reductions in court personnel, etc.,etc. etc. I haven't even discussed some of the results of other Sub-Appropriation Committee cut. They will result in laying of teachers, shorting school time, laying off professors, closing whole sections of someof our colleges, eliminating many human services to people withdisabilities, mentally ill, ending life saving Medicaid Healthcare servicesto some, ...the list goes on.
Final decisions have not been made. We will balance the Budget . I know and understand that so many people that are not close to this Budgeting process can easily say, "there's fat in government, so just keepcutting."But at some point you have to ask is the cost to society worth thecuts. We are dealing with some difficult decisions.
I believe these difficult times will pass, and if we can make some reasonable and correct decisionsto get us through the next 12 to 18 months, we will be okay. It is thosedecisions that we must find agreement on. If these cuts begin to be to Draconian, then there will be discussions about revenue sources to deal with some of the cuts, even if only temporarily. Such revenue sources discussion will include Rainy Day funds, bonding and new fees or taxes. These next two weeks will be very challenging.
As always, I value your input.Rep Steven Mascaro
What is wrong with Michael Noel?
O.K. am I the only Republican that thinks it nuts to lease oil exploration sites in Southern Utah, many of which are near our National Parks and National Monuments? Last year I was in Banff National Park in Canada and I saw thousands of tourists from Japan, Germany and all over the world spending their money like they couldn't get rid of it fast enough. I don't think they would come if their were oil rigs spoiling the beauty.
I was hunting Antelope in Wyoming last year and it was a great trip. The only downer was the hunt was in the middle of the Wyoming oil fields. There were literally hundreds and hundreds of drill sites stretching further than the eye could see. Bad enough in the ugly plains of Wyoming, but is that what we want next to Arches?
Michael Noel (R-Kanab) is staging the next sagebrush rebellion. He wants to develop the hell out of southern Utah. Even a conservative Republican like myself can see the lunacy of his proposed policies. Southern Utah is a world treasure. Lets keep beautiful. Lets bring the tourists here from all over the world to show it off.
I was hunting Antelope in Wyoming last year and it was a great trip. The only downer was the hunt was in the middle of the Wyoming oil fields. There were literally hundreds and hundreds of drill sites stretching further than the eye could see. Bad enough in the ugly plains of Wyoming, but is that what we want next to Arches?
Michael Noel (R-Kanab) is staging the next sagebrush rebellion. He wants to develop the hell out of southern Utah. Even a conservative Republican like myself can see the lunacy of his proposed policies. Southern Utah is a world treasure. Lets keep beautiful. Lets bring the tourists here from all over the world to show it off.
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