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.