From Deseret News archives:
Don't toss Walker tax report
The proposals, a year in the making, are intended to lower tax rates but broaden the state's tax base. The recommendations are intended to be addressed as a package deal. Some of the more significant changes would be to establish a flat-rate income tax, tax consumer services including health care, eliminate corporate income tax and equalize the sales tax rate statewide. Other proposals would permit school and other special districts to adjust property taxes for inflation without conducting public hearings, fund urban and suburban water districts with user fees and allow school districts and special districts to decide whether they will participate in redevelopment agency projects.
Walker's team of tax advisers have recommended sweeping changes that deserve careful debate. But political realities being what they are, it's unlikely that a new governor would lead out on such substantial changes in tax policy. Moreover, lawmakers who had no role in developing these recommendations have all but pronounced the proposals dead on arrival, for the upcoming legislative session, at least.
Legislators would be derelict to ignore the prognostications of Walker's tax advisers, who warn that the state will face a $200 million shortfall within a decade if nothing is done to reform the state's tax structure. The projected shortfall would occur just as the state anticipates the addition of 145,000 public school students.
Frankly, Walker's recommendations feature many attractive reforms. The Deseret Morning News has long championed funding urban and suburban water use with fees rather than property taxes. Whatever the state could do to sales tax policy to discourage the "zoning for dollars" phenomenon that pits one community against another in the fight for big-box retailers would be healthy, too.
But other aspects of the plan such as taxing health care services send up red flags. Is it right that the sickest among us be saddled with a tax on top of their already soaring health-care costs?
Is it appropriate that rural residents have to help pay for local-option services such as mass transit or zoos, art programs and parks along the Wasatch Front?
It's not the perfect plan, but it should be the catalyst of thoughtful discussions about Utah's tax system. While no one expects a wholesale adoption of these recommendations at this juncture, they provide a careful examination of critical tax issues. The men and women who volunteered their time and expertise to this effort have provided a remarkable gift of service to all Utahns. Public policymakers should build upon this analysis.
Comments
- Chocolate milk in schools pushed 9:43 a.m.
- Deadline for Google book-scan deal 9:41 a.m.
- I-84 crash closes lanes in Canyon 9:36 a.m.
- Suicide bomber kills 3 in Pakistan 9:25 a.m.
- Somali pirates hit oil tanker 9:23 a.m.
- China executes 9 in ethnic riots 9:22 a.m.
- Iran accuses hikers of espionage 9:21 a.m.
- DC sniper's execution nears 9:20 a.m.
- Stocks jump after G-20 pledge 9:20 a.m.
- Agassi: Lies he 'can't live with' 9:07 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
- Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
- Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
- Water wars in Snake Valley
- Lambert crossed line by miles
- Cougars' execution flawless
- Teenager is critical after stabbing
- Utes pound winless Lobos
- BYU 186, Wyoming 17?
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
222 - House passes health care bill
206 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
152 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
130 - Provo company innovating engines
103 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
103 - TCU showdown has big implications
92 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
I hope Utah fans are happy with 9-3, because that's where they'll end up.
All this talk about TCU's defense, blah blah blah. They haven't played...
Must be nice for the Tyler Farrells of the world to have money to throw away...
who cares about 4a or 5a you ask any of the 5a coachs if they think they...
#1 We can't afford our current system with insurance premiums expected to...
20-30 years ago they were telling us to stop having children, too....
I don't believe one word of Lambert's "sincere" apology. It was probably...
Just as the Utes claimed all last year...they need to rollover for TCU so...
Twenty years ago my children and I went through the fire trap of divorce....
MC >>>>>>>>>>>> TV TV plays only weak teams and if they play anyone decent...


You can be the first to comment on this story.