A true flat-rate income tax without deductions would have had tough going in the Legislature in any case, with around 80 percent of lawmakers being members of the LDS Church.

Still, Hughes said he and other flat-raters were heartened several weeks ago when Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said he favors a "flatter" personal income tax, one that had no deductions.

But Hughes said legislative leaders are not on board for the flat tax.

"Real reform like this needs consensus. And we don't have it," he added.

Hughes said he personally will not file a flat-rate income tax bill in the 2006 Legislature. "Going rogue would not be productive."

However, something still must be done with the current income tax system, he adds. And legislators should consider cutting revenues from the consistently growing state income tax.

State government had a $170.4 million surplus in fiscal 2005, which ended June 30, state officials reported Thursday.

That's a record surplus, and nearly 80 percent of that comes in income taxes, said Hughes.

"We should seriously look at reforming and trimming the income tax, because that is where all the growth is. Simply put: People are paying too much income tax."

Bramble said regardless of what happens with the true flat-rate tax, it is the responsibility of the task force to have a specific recommendation on income tax reform. "And we'll do it."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com