Just one tax reform at a time

In response to Jay Evensen's column of July 25 ("It's time for real, sweeping tax reform"), as one who has been elected to represent my constituents, I find it ironic that it is considered unique and "uncomfortable" to suggest possible solutions to one of the state's most pressing and critical challenges — long-term school funding.

Few people are aware that by law, all state income tax monies are appropriated to public education in Utah. Every dollar in exemptions is a dollar out of your neighborhood school. Corporate and individual tax exemptions have become an entitlement in our society. I thought responsibility was a family and community value!

If Utah is indeed the family state, we'd better be committed to educating our children. New education monies are needed, and they need to be targeted to early interventions in the classroom.

The Jones-Mascaro legislation is about tax fairness, tax equity and about funding our children's schools. The legislation does not raise the tax rate; it gradually reduces and removes tax exemptions.

Whether you are Wal-Mart, Micron or a wealthy individual, those receiving more than their share of tax exemptions see them as an entitlement. Head tax? Try "head subsidy." In fact, a head tax is unconstitutional in Utah. Apparently, generous tax subsidies to wealthy, large families are not. The working class, average size family has been shouldering more than its share of the public school funding burden for years.

The Jones-Mascaro legislation would modestly shift that burden. The legislation funnels $90 million new money each year in Utah's schools by (1) expanding tax brackets (a move that helps all taxpayers), (2) indexing income taxes to inflation (supported by all tax experts), and (3) assisting our working poor by providing a state earned income tax credit. These provisions result in more progressiveness in Utah's income tax system.

According to the Utah Tax Commission, under the Jones-Mascaro legislation, about half of our citizens would pay slightly less income tax than they do now.

Some important points about the Jones-Mascaro bill:

The money would be earmarked to neighborhood schools, where elected local school boards (with public input) decide their most pressing needs, the board draws up a plan and accounts for the money.

The money is new, ongoing, broadly based and significant. What does $90 million per year mean to your neighborhood school? About $275,000 per year for an average high school in the state. About $50,000 a year for a moderate-size elementary school.