From Deseret News archives:
Tax reform may get reformed
Huntsman and advisers already talking about additional reform
Don't get used to it.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., his trusted advisers and leading tax-reform legislators were already talking Wednesday about additional tax reform and tax cuts measures for the 2007 Legislature.
The talk of further tweaks to the new "dual-track" income tax system that gives taxpayers the option of paying a flat rate comes just one day after Utah legislators adopted the tax alternative, and even before the governor's signature on the new law was dry.
"We have a framework for further improvements in tax reform," Huntsman told the Deseret Morning News shortly after the bill-signing ceremony, describing his goal next session as coming up with incentives to move more Utahns away from the current income tax system to his preferred "flatter, fairer" income tax.
Gubernatorial tax adviser Keith Prescott told lawmakers that he could present new income tax alternatives as soon as mid-October.
Prescott, a private sector certified public accountant, and Huntsman chief of staff Neil Ashdown, an economist, appeared before the Revenue and Tax Interim Study Committee meeting as unannounced guests.
Huntsman said later in an interview that he wasn't ready to say how that should be done.
"I'm not willing the day we actually sign this bill to make any predictions other than to say our objectives are really twofold one is to over time get it closer to 5 percent (in the flat-rate tax option) and, two, to improve overall migration patterns to the flatter tax," the governor said.
One option the governor said is being considered for the 2007 Legislature is some kind of tax credit "for people at certain income levels that will encourage them to migrate over to a flatter system."
Plus, Huntsman said whatever he proposes will have to be based on how much money is available.
The tax reform/tax cut package approved by lawmakers in special session Tuesday carried a $78 million price tag.
Will he want to spend that much next session? "The numbers will determine that," the governor said, describing the latest revenue forecasts as "looking good. I think we will have a very strong year."
But Prescott, for political and practical reasons, warns against a "Band-Aid on Band-Aid approach" offering instead one large leap forward.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...



You can be the first to comment on this story.