Scott Matheson Jr.'s response to Deseret Morning News questionnaire

G. Close Tax Loopholes — Over the past several decades, numerous state tax exemptions have been added, amounting to over $500 million in foregone revenue. Exemptions that made sense and were justified at the time they were enacted may not make sense many years later. When budgets are so stretched and many individuals and businesses do not have the benefit of tax exemptions, it seems fair that the case be made for each exemption every five years. The Legislature should be asked to re-enact the exemptions that can be justified and allow those to expire that are no longer needed. By closing those loopholes, more revenue will be available for pressing budget needs.

H. Collect Taxes Owed — I support stronger efforts to collect all taxes that are owed. The vast majority of individuals and business pay their fair share. The state currently is not adequately staffed to achieve greater compliance. More resources for tax audit and collection will generate more revenues for the state without raising taxes.

I. Tax Review — I do not believe our citizens would or should support new taxes for education without exhausting all of the foregoing strategies. I do think we need a comprehensive review of our tax system to make sure it is fair and efficient. Governor Walker initiated such a review, and we need to build on the work that has been done. Just as the Commission on Government Efficiency should produce cost savings that can be used for education, a thorough review of our tax system should indicate areas of reform and efficiency that will produce more revenue without raising taxes. Income tax brackets, which have not been indexed for inflation and have not received material change for over 30 years, should be adjusted to meet today's circumstances.

To view my comprehensive plan on Utah's education system, entitled "We Can Do Better: A Pledge to Education," please visit my Web site at www.mathesonforgovernor.com.

10. The state gasoline tax has not been raised since 1997, when it went up to help pay for reconstruction of I-15 in Salt Lake County. When tax revenues dropped off in the early 2000s, lawmakers and the former governor took sales tax revenue out of roads and bonded. How do we pay for more road repairs now, including rebuilding I-80 on the east side of Salt Lake County?