Pet projects part of massive final night funding bill

Published: Thursday, March 6, 2008 12:45 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
On the last day of each Legislature, lawmakers pass what is called the "bill of bills" — a huge spending document that makes last-minute funding and basically balances out the state's next fiscal year budget.

This year's bill spends the last $398 million lawmakers had to allocate.

Also historically, a few ineresting items sneak into the final budget bill, while some other items have been long debated and well known, or are required in other bills which carried a fiscal note, or cost.

Here are some interesting items in the 2008 — bill of bills — which passed Wedneday night:

• $1 million to pay for costs associated with moving the Legislature back into the Capitol, membership dues and legislative per diem.

• $3.8 million to bank land. Sources said the money goes to two projects desired by Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, to buy land near Utah Valley University and land in Ogden for a future court building.

• $150,000 to study a road across Utah Lake.

• $85,000 for the Capitol Hill dining services.

• $750,000 for critical languages.

Story continues below

• $100,000 for the Emergency Food Network, to make up for a loss in its tax break on food sales tax.

• $100,000 to the Gunnison Community Theater.

• $815,000 for state computer security.

• $500,000 for the motion picture fund, money demanded by the governor.

• $250,000 for the Museum of Natural Curiosity, Thanksgiving Point.

• $349,000 for a judicial performance evaluation.

• $357,000 for the Thanksgiving Point Museum.

• $900,000 for UCAT equipment.

• $3 million for English language learner software.

• $5,000 spent for the "state women's golf tournament."

And a number of museums and art organizations got cash, including:Ballet West, $178,500; Freedom Festival, $107,000; Moab Music Festival, $50,000; Tuacahn, $150,000; Leonardo, $250,000

Recent comments

I'm really curious about the allocations for software for ELL and...

Same old stuff | March 6, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.

I wish that was my money ... wait ... it is!

Money | March 6, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...

i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...

Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...

Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...

can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...

Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...

These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...

My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...

It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...

You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...

Advertisements