From Deseret News archives:

Project-funding lists approved

Published: Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 12:34 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Lawmakers on Thursday reached a milestone in the state's budgetary sifting process as they approved lists of projects and programs they'd like to see funded.

Included on the lists were salary increases for corrections' officers, bond and lease payoffs for educational buildings, money for airport radar in Provo, funding for a veteran's nursing home, additional student financial aid and scholarships, and educational initiatives to push more students into Utah's hottest jobs.

There is also a proposal, released late Wednesday and prioritized by the public education subcommittee, to provide $9.6 million to give computer software to preschoolers — plus home computers and internet connections for low-income kids — to better prepare them for school.

The money is attached to HB200, sponsored by Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George. The pilot program would monitor kids learning through third grade. If test scores rise, all preschoolers could end up with the virtual teacher of sorts.

"It's an awful lot cheaper than preschool," Last said.

Story continues below
For the remaining three weeks of the session, legislative leaders, acting as the Executive Appropriations Committee, will decide who gets money, who doesn't and where possible budget cuts or additions should be. Currently, the state is estimating it will have about $838 million in new money to spend, although new revenue estimates may slightly decrease that amount, said Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, the House budget chairman.

"Everyone is fairly convinced the numbers will be slightly lower," Bigelow said. "The question is how much lower."

Either way, more requests have been made than money is available, and some pet programs will lose out, according to legislative leaders. But major movement on spending won't happen until after the revenue estimates are available, likely around Feb. 18.

Thursday, legislators decided in their appropriations subcommittees what spending priorities to recommend to their leaders. Those priority lists will, ideally, play an integral role in the decisions made by Executive Appropriations.

• Health and Human Services: Committee members recommended $1.1 million and $1 million more, if fellow lawmakers agree, to shorten the disabled waiting list of about 1,800 disabled Utahns who are eligible for but haven't received state-assisted home and community services. The committee also recommended $1 million be spent on the state's drug court program and $1 million to boost pay and make program improvements at the long-neglected local health departments.

Recent comments

One project that could really use state support is a new Globe-like...

Viva Shakespeare | Feb. 10, 2008 at 11:17 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...

I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...

Price injured; Miles has cast removed

hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...

Jazz blow big lead, hang on

play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...

I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...

Thousands protest health bill

That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...

What exactly were Nephite interpreters?

I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...

I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...

U. hopes to keep clicking

BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...

NFL: Midseason grades

i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!

Advertisements
Advertisement